JUNE 1944 1944: Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 1945 1st ½: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep 1945 2nd ½: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

The basic chronology and general information on these pages is a composite of entries excerpted from “Air War Pacific Chronology: America’s Air War Against Japan in East Asia and the Pacific 1941-1945” by Eric Hammel (Pacifica, CA: Pacifica Press, 1988 ISBN 0-933353-26-6) and, “USAAF Chronology: Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces” by Jack McKillop (Piscataway, NJ). Also on line at Rutgers University.

Note: Shaded boxes show updates and comments from members of our B-29 mailing list, many of whom were there.

1 JUNE 1944 (page 374)

No actions reported.

2 JUNE 1944 (page 375)

No actions reported.

3 JUNE 1944 (page 375)

No actions reported.

4 JUNE 1944 (page 376)

No actions reported.

5 JUNE 1944 (page 376)

CHINA

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek asks LGen Joseph W. Stillwell to divert impending XX BC B-29 missions from strategic targets to the support of Chinese Army forces that are under pressure in eastern China.

THAILAND

Seventy-seven of 98 B-29's dispatched from the 58th BW in the Karachi area mount the first B-29 attack of the war against railroad shops at Bangkok between 1052 and 1232 hours. Due to heavy undercast, 48 B-29's employ radar guidance to drop their bombs. Five B-29's are lost in operational accidents in which 15 crewman are killed or missing.

Aircraft lost: 42-6282 40th BG - MACR 6602 - Sanders Crew - Ditched Bay of Bengal, Chittagong 25 miles SW of India, 9 Rescued 2 KIA 42-6318 40th BG - Keller Crew - Number 2 engine failed at take off 100 feet up before crashing. 10 KIA 1 Survivor. 42-6304 40th BG - MACR 6603 - Zamry Crew - Ditched Bay of Bengal - 2 KIA, 10 Rescued. 42-6336 462nd BG - Randolph Crew - All Saved. 42-6361 444th BG - Malone Crew - 1 KIA 42-6304 Major Zamry's Crew. Ditched in Bay of Bengal.

6 JUNE 1944 (page 377)

EUROPE

The D-Day invasion begins on the beaches of Normandy France.

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR

The JCS issues "Operations Against Japan, Subsequent to Formosa", which includes a timetable for the invasion of the Bonin and Ryukyu Island groups and the Japanese Home Islands beginning with Kyushu on November 1 and continuing to Honshu on 31 December 1945.

7 JUNE 1944 (page 378)

ZONE OF THE INTERIOR

Gen George C. Marshall rejects MGen Chennault's request, forwarded via LtGen Stillwell, that XX BC B-29 supply stockpiles be employed to bolster 14th AF operations in the event of emergency in east China.

One operational loss: 42-6271 468th BG MACR 6598 Patillo Crew 1 KIA, 1 MIA

8 JUNE 1944 (page 378)

No actions reported. 8 June 1944 The 468th Bomb Group had an operational lost: 42-6314 - 468th BG - MACR 6597 - Sloan Crew - 1 KIA 10 Rescued - Lost enroute A-7 engine fire One B-29 lost on June 10th: 42-63567 - "City of Providence" - 19th BG - MACR 14614 - Woods Crew - 9 MIA 2 Rescued - ditched from Kure

9 JUNE 1944 (page 379)

No actions reported.

10 JUNE 1944 (page 380)

No actions reported.

11 JUNE 1944 (page 381)

No actions reported.

12 JUNE 1944 (page 381)

No actions reported.

13 JUNE 1944 (page 382)

MARIANAS

Following two days of naval air bombardment, US Navy battleships and supporting combatants detached from Task Force 58, arrive to begin pre-invasion naval bombardments of Japanese bases and defenses in the area.

14 JUNE 1944 (page 383)

No actions reported.

15 JUNE 1944 (page 384)

BONIN ISLANDS

Air elements of Task Groups 58.1 and 58.4 mount heavy attacks on airfields fuel supplies and barracks on Chichi Jima, and Haha Jima in order to sever the only viable route of land-based air reinforcement from Japan to the Marianas.

JAPAN

During the night of 15-16 June, in their first strategic-bombing attack against targets in in Japan, 47 of 68 B-29's dispatched from the 58th BW staging through airdromes in around Chengtu China, drop a total of 221 tons of bombs on the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata Kyushu. Nine B-29's attack targets of opportunity. One B-29 is downed by anti-aircraft fire over Yawata and five B-29's are lost in operational accidents. Also a B-29 that lands at Neihsiang Airdrome China due to mechanical problems will be destroyed on the ground by Japanese fighter and bombers on 16 June. Fifty-four crewman and a correspondent are killed in the various crashes.

(This mission nearly exhausts fuel supplies stockpiled at the Chengtu bases and results in a curtailment of B-29 combat missions.)

(With the exception of the Eleventh AF raids on the Kurile Islands, this is the first air attack against Japan since the Doolittle raid in April 1942.)

Six of the lost aircraft were: 42-6220 444th BG - Crashed in China - Krupinski Crew 11 KIA 42-93826 468th BG - MACR 6601 - Pilchard Crew 12 MIA 42-6230 " Limber Dugan" 468th BG - MACR 6596 - Ivanovich Crew 12 MIA 42-6231 468th BG - MACR 6599 - Akins Crew crashed into Mountain 11 KIA 42-6229 468th BG - Hughes Crew crashed on take off all survived. 42-6261 40th BG - MACR 6600 "Stockett's Rocket" The 58th Bomb Wing from India bases were on their way to their forward bases and Chengtu, China for the first raid on Japan by the B-29's. Yawata Iron and Steel Works, June 15, 1944. One B-29 from the 40th Bomb Group never arrived in China: 42-6261 "Stockett's Rocket" The Yawata mission was over and had been judged a success, not a single airplane being lost from the 40th Bombardment Group. Yet the 45th Bombardment Squadron felt a particular loss, which was indirectly a loss due to the mission. On the morning of 15 June, Capt. Marvin Stockett and crew departed from Chakulia to proceed to the forward area in airplane 42-6261. The plane was assigned to the unit and was loaded to participate in the mission. However, it never reached the forward area. It was last heard from at 0240 Z on 15 June. Several days passed and a check was made to be sure the plane had not made an emergency landing at some field enroute. Reluctantly, it had to be concluded that the plane and crew had gone down. Notification of their loss was made. Everyone in the organization will miss the men in that crew. Hope is held, though, that they are “walking out”. On that date the crew were listed as MIA. Listed below are members of the “Stockett’s Rocket” Capt. Marvin Stockett A/C 2nd Lt. William Pruitt CP 2ND Lt. Marvin Fisk N 2ND Lt. Jose Marales B 1ST Lt. Max Kendzur F/E Sgt. Lewis Landauer R Sgt. Jesse Cotton CFC Sgt. John Montero G Sgt. Harry Crawford G Sgt. John Eudy G Cpl. Richard Leckliter V AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION Marvin M. Stockett, Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces, 0-401260 45th Bomber Squadron, 40th Bomber Group Entered the Service from: Oklahoma Died: June 15, 1944 Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines This is from a member of the 462nd Bomb Group. "57 years ago today we were enroute from Piradoba India to Kunglai, China on B-29 OURS #285, with 2 bellies full of bombs and gas. It was tomorrow, June 15th, we took off in late afternoon on the 1st B-29 Raid on the mainland of Japan since Doolitle's B-25 raid off a Navy carrier, the Target was the Iron and Steel works at Yawata, Japan. We were the 4th to takeoff from our base in China and were the 2nd to hit the target. There was no formation flying, or anything elaborate like that, we flew single, bombed single and returned home alone too. were the 2nd to land back in China. Can't say it was uneventful, because about 40 miles from the Target, the #2 engine began coughing and running rough, I got it smoothed out in time for the final bomb run, but was questionable most of the way home. Also, the bomb bay doors would not close after we dropped the bombs, the electric motor wouldn't work. The right gunner had to use the Emergency hand crank to crank them shut, once we were clear of the target area and things quieted down to where he could leave his seat and guns." 42-6230 "Limber Dugan" was shot down by Sadamitsu Kimura. Also, a reaction to the first B-29's over Japan, from 1Lt. Isamu Kashiide: "I had known that the B-29 was a huge plane, but when I saw my opponent ... I was just astounded by its size." (From "B-29 Hunters of the JAAF," pg. 9)

MARIANA ISLANDS

Two Marine divisions of the III Amphibious Corps begin the invasion of Saipan.

16 JUNE 1944 (page 385)

No actions reported.

The following aircraft was lost: 42-6293 444th BG - destroyed on ground by Japanese fighters and bombers.

17 JUNE 1944 (page 386)

No actions reported.

18 JUNE 1944 (page 387)

No actions reported. 19 June 1944 (page 388)

MARIANA ISLANDS

In response to the American invasion of the Marianas, the Japanese send naval and air forces in an effort to repel the invasion forces. Task Force 58 meets 480 Japanese aircraft in the Battle of the Philippine Sea or the Marianas Turkey Shoot. The US Navy claims 380 confirmed and 55 probable Japanese fighters destroyed. Japanese Carriers Taiho and Shokaku are sunk by air and submarine attack.

Twenty USN pilots are lost and 31 sailors are killed aboard ships participating in the battle. Additional Japanese aircraft and ships are destroyed on subsequent days although the main body of the Imperial Navy's First Mobile Fleet is able to retire.

20 JUNE 1944 (page 390)

No actions reported.

21 JUNE 1944 (page 392)

No actions reported.

22 JUNE 1944 (page 392)

No actions reported.

23 JUNE 1944 (page 393)

No actions reported.

24 JUNE 1944 (page 394)

No actions reported.

25 JUNE 1944 (page 395)

No actions reported.

323 (?) "Princess Eileen" 444th BG, went straight in north of Calcutta in bound to Charra from A3 in China. Captain James Schleicher and crew, there were no survivors. Last report 18,000 in thunderstorms. A/C Schleicher P O'shea N Miklosh B Cumming FE Rinke RD Aiken RA Jennings Top G Groff RG Chesebro LG Thieman T G Larkins This is The Schleicher crew not official loading list of the flight. This was Captain Jack Silers first Princess Eileen--May 26, 1945, Princess Eileen IV and the Siler Crew were shot down over Tokyo about half survived as PWs.

26 JUNE 1944 (page 396)

No actions reported.

One operational loss: 42-6235 468th BG, Anderson Crew, crashed after landing gear collapsed, all survived.

27 JUNE 1944 (page 396)

No actions reported.

28 JUNE 1944 (page 397)

No actions reported.

29 JUNE 1944 (page 397)

No actions reported.

30 JUNE 1944 (page 397)

No actions reported.

1944: Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 1945 1st ½: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep 1945 2nd ½: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep