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 Home > History > The 5th Air Force in WWII > June 1942



Monday, 1 June, 1942

B-17s attack Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea and Rabaul, New Britain Island.

Tuesday, 2 June, 1942

B-17s bomb the dock and military camp area at Rabaul, New Britain Island. 39th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, moves from Woodstock, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea with P-39s; first mission is today.

Wednesday, 3 June, 1942

B-17s hit the wharf, warehouse area, and military camp at Rabaul, New Britain Island.

Friday, 5 June, 1942

B-17s hit wharves, a warehouse, and coal jetty at Rabaul, New Britain Island.

Tuesday, 9 June, 1942

B-17s, B-25s, and B-26s attack Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea.

Wednesday, 10 June, 1942

B-17s bomb aircraft and buildings at Rabaul, New Britain Island. HQ 38th Bombardment Group (Medium) moves from Amberley Field to Eagle Farms, Australia.

Friday, 12 June, 1942

B-17s bomb the building area and Vunakanau and Lakunai Airfields at Rabaul, New Britain Island.

Saturday, 13 June, 1942

B-17s hit the airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island.

Monday, 15 June, 1942

63d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), moves from Sydney to Charleville, Australia with B-17s.

Tuesday, 16 June, 1942

B-26s, B-25s, and B-17s pound Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea hitting runways and buildings and starting several fires.

Thursday, 18 June, 1942

Air echelon of 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 38th Bombardment Group (Medium), leaves Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii with B-26s and proceeds to New Caledonia Island to join the ground echelon; the squadron will fly sea-search missions until December, 1942.

Friday, 19 June, 1942

B-17s pound shipping and Vunakanau Airfield at Rabaul, New Britain Island.

Saturday, 20 June, 1942

B-17s bomb the runway at Lae, New Guinea.

Wednesday, 24 June, 1942

B-17s hit Vunakanau Airfield on New Britain Island. Bomb loads include several bundles of incendiaries which cause intense fires.

Thursday, 25 June, 1942

B-25s bomb Salamaua, New Guinea.

Saturday, 27 June, 1942

B-26s bomb Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea.

Monday, 29 June, 1942

B-17s hit airfields at Rabaul, New Britain Island and Lae, New Guinea during the night of 28/29 June. 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, moves from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Woodstock, Australia with P-39s.