Air Operations, Aleutians

6 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s attack Kiska, but other bombers abort due to mechanical problems and failure to rendezvous with a Patrol Wing 4 PV radar pathfinder.

Air Operations, CBI

5 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s and 8 23rd Fighter Group P-40s attack the airfield at Pailochi.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Penfoei airfield on Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

• 4 Mosquitos are sent to Cologne and 3 to Düsseldorf. 36 aircraft lay mines off the Biscay ports.
• 1 Lancaster is lost.

Princess Elizabeth looks on a HRH King George VI and Queen Elizabeth chat with Bomber Command crews.

The King and Queen with Bomber Crews

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s attack targets around Labu Lagoon.

Air Operations, Pacific

The Japanese bomb US troops on Rendova Island.

Air Operations, Solomons

• 35 US Marine Corps TBFs and SBDs attack Japanese defenses at Bairoko, New Georgia, in support of US Marine Corps ground troops.
• During the evening, 13 307th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville, the first visit to Kahili since June 24. 7 other B-24s attack the airfield at Buka.
• 6 5th Heavy Bomb Group B-17s attack the airfield at Ballale Airdrome.
• 42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a beached Japanese destroyer.
• VF-11 F4Fs down 4 A6M Zeros over Kula Gulf between 1030 and 1040 hours.

Aleutians

The Japanese positions on Kiska are bombarded by 4 cruisers and 4 destroyers led by Rear-Adm Robert C. Giffen. This attack, the first in 11 months, is repeated several times by smaller forces over the next few days.

View from the Wichita during pre-invason bombardment of Kiska, 6 July 1943

China

Bombers of the US 14th Air Force attack ships in ports in western China held by the Japanese.

Eastern Front

The bitter fighting of the Battle of Kursk continues. Model's 9th Army, part of von Kluge's Army Group Center, makes slight progress, about 6 miles. The Elefant assault guns employed here suffer heavily from infantry attack as their support is destroyed and their lack of machine guns prevents effective self-defense.

The dawn before the battle July, 6, 1943.AT-60 tank of 2nd tank army.

Dawn Before the Battle

Panzergrenadiers move to Maloarkhangelsky settlement. July 6 1943.

Panzergrenadiers Moving Up

Tigers of the 8.Kompanie, SS-PzRgt.2/2. SS-PzD 'Das Reich', move through the Russian steppes accompanied by SS-Panzergrenadiers, during the early of the Operation Zitadelle, south of the road Tomarowka-Bykowka, Russia. 6 July 1943.

Tigers of the Das Reich Panzer Division

In the south excellent artillery and air support helps achieve rather more. A heavy downpour restricts the advance here a little, especially on the left on the lower ground allocated to the front of XLVIII Corps. The 4th Panzer Army under Hoth and Kempf Operational Group of von Manstein's Army Group South, drive the Russians back 12 miles to the north. The Russian bulletin speaks of the destruction of 433 tanks and 111 aircraft. German losses are not as great as the day before, but still very high.

In the northern sector of the Kursk salient both sides focus their efforts on the ridges stretching between Pomyri and the heavily defended villages of Olkhovarka and Samodurovka. The Soviet XVI Tank and XVII Guards Rifle Corps attack but are thrown back. The Russian withdrawals are followed closely by tanks of the XLVII Panzer Corps advancing to the second defensive belt held by the XVII Guards Rifle Corps' 70th and 75th Guards Rifle Divs. To the east of the line XLI Panzer Corps again tries to split the 13th and 48th Armies, but fails to do so. In the early evening the Soviets launch a counterattack, the 150 tanks of the XIX Tank Corps hitting the tip of the German 20th and 2nd Panzer Divs in the Bobrik-Samodurovka sector. The tanks are stopped by German firepower, but once again both sides suffer heavy losses. The German 9th Army has again failed to make a breakthrough.

In the south the German attack is aimed at Oboyan, launched by the 3rd Panzer, 11th Panzer and Grossdeutschland Divs following a 90-minute period of artillery preparation. The Luftwaffe flies some 200 ground-attack missions in support. However, despite 8 separate attacks by XLVIII Panzer Corps, the Germans cannot break through.

July 6, 1943. A German officer confers with the field gendarmes near the town of Podolyan. Field Gendarmes managed traffic, delivering reinforcements or ammunition to the front lines.

German Officer Confers with the Field Gendarmes

II SS Panzer Corps defeats the T-34 tanks of V Guards Tank Corps south of Iakovlevo, but cannot dislodge the III Mechanized Corps' 1st Guards Tank Bde and 51st Guards Rifle Div from Pokrovka and Bol'shie Maiachki on its left flank. Army Detachment Kempf attacks out of its bridgehead over the Northern Donets River with the tanks of the 7th and 19th Panzer Divs leading the way, joined later in the afternoon by the 6th Panzer Div. The 19th Panzer Div tankes Belovskoe but is halted by the last reserves of the 81st Guards Rifle Div near Iastrebovo. The lead elements of XLVIII Panzer Corps link up with those of II SS Panzer Corps near Iakovlevo, establishing a clear threat to Oboyan. In response, the Stavka orders the II and V Tank Corps from the reserves to reinforce the Voronezh Front. The front's plans for dealing with the German threat are as follows: XXXI Tank Corps will advance toward the right flank of II SS Panzer Corps, II Tank Corps and V Tank Corps will threaten the SS left flank, while VI Tank Corps and III Mechanized Corps will hald XLVIII Panzer Corps progress on the Oboyan road.[MORE]

Solomons

A second Japanese destroyer is sunk by aircraft on the second day of action in the area. Bougainville becomes the target of a series of raids by US bombers in an effort to knock out the airfields there. The raids gradually grow stronger; medium bombers often accompany the heavy bombers to hit more and more often the enemy shipping operating in the area. 2 regiments of the 43rd Div are already established on New Georgia, concentrated near the Barike River. Some battalions are trying without success to force the Japanese block on the track from Zanana to Munda.

The US Cruiser Helena

On July 6, 1943, during the naval Battle of Kula Gulf, the US destroyer Radford rescued wounded, burned, and drowning sailors from the shark-infested waters off the coast of Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands. The Radford is one of 4 destroyers sent to intercept the Tokyo Express from delivering troop reinforcements on Kolombangara. During that battle, the US cruiser Helena is hit by the Japanese destroyers, Suzukaza and Tanikaze, and sinks quickly, sending its crew of 900 sailors into the South Pacific sea. At risk of being sunk by Japanese destroyers, the US destroyers, the Radford and Nicholas, remained to rescue over 700 sailors from the Helena, the Radford crew alone saving 468 and the Nicholas 291 sailors of the Helena.