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Selected: June 2
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1937 — , June 2

  • Spain: Day 321 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.

1938 — , June 2

  • Spain: Day 686 of 985 of the Spanish Civil War.
  • CBI - China: Day 331 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
    • Day 116 of 124 of the Battle of Henan.

1939 — , June 2

  • CBI - China: Day 696 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
  • CBI - Mongolia: Day 23 of 129 of the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, a border dispute between the Soviet Union and Japan.

1940 — , June 2

  • Atlantic: German sub U-101 sinks the British ship POLYCARP 41 miles south of Lands End in southwestern England. U-58 sinks the British coastal defense vessel HMS ASTRONOMER 20 miles off the northeast coast of Scotland.
  • ETO - Norway: Day 55 of 63 of the Battle of Norway. Polish and French troops push the German forces away from Narvik as other troops continue to evacuate.
  • ETO - France: Day 24 of 44 of the Battle of France. Day 7 of 9 of Britain's Operation DYNAMO, the evacuation of Dunkirk. Another 26,256 troops are evacuated to England. All British troops have now been evacuated from Dunkirk and the evacuation of the rearguard French troops begins.
  • CBI - China: Day 1,062 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
    • Day 201 of 381 of the Battle of South Guangxi.
    • Day 33 of 49 of the Battle of Yichang.

1941 — , June 2

  • Atlantic: German sub U-147 attacks an Allied convoy northwest of Ireland, damaging Belgian ship MOKAMBO, but the sub is destroyed by depth charges from HMS WANDERER and HMS PERIWINKLE.
  • Atlantic: German submarine U-108 sinks the British catapult-armed merchant ship MICHAEL E about 1,050 miles west of Land's End, England.
  • ETO - UK: Before dawn, the Luftwaffe bombs the cities of Manchester and Salford.
  • ETO - Germany: The RAF bombs industrial targets in the Ruhr region.
  • ETO - France: The Vichy French government publishes anti-Semitic legislation based on German laws which includes banning Jews from holding any public office.
  • ETO - Italy: Hitler and Mussolini meet at the Brenner Pass on the German-Italian border to discuss the progress of the war. This is the eighth of their fourteen meetings.
  • Eastern Front: General mobilization is announced in the Soviet Union.
  • MTO - Greece: In light of the successful German campaign at Crete, Goering brags that there was no such thing as an unconquerable island, hinting a similar fate for Britain. Meanwhile, a Greek government-in-exile is formed in Egypt.
  • Middle East: The pro-British government in Iraq is restored in under Amir Abdul Illah.
  • MTO - Libya: Day 54 of 256 of the Siege of Tobruk.
  • East Africa: Day 358 of 537 of Italy's East African campaign in the lands south of Egypt.
  • CBI - China: Day 1,427 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.

1942 — , June 2

  • Atlantic: Day 140 of 169 of Germany's Second "Happy Time," during which U-boats sink 609 Allied ships with little risk.
  • ETO - Germany: The RAF launches its second 1,000 bomber raid (although only 956 successfully take off) and hits Essen.
  • Germany: About 50 German Jews from Berlin arrive at the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp, becoming the first German Jews to arrive at this camp.
  • Russian Front - North: Day 268 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
  • Russian Front - North: Day 29 of 658 of the Siege of the Kholm Pocket.
  • Russian Front - Center: Day 5 of 31 of Operation KREMLIN, a German diversion to trick the Soviets into thinking Moscow is their main objective instead of Stalingrad and the Caucasus.
  • Russian Front - South: Day 216 of 248 of the Siege of Sevastopol, Crimean Peninsula. The German bombardment continues with 600mm and 800mm guns.
  • MTO - Libya: Day 8 of 27 of the Battle of Gazala. German and Italian troops attack the French-held fort of Bir Hakeim.
  • MTO - Tunisia: The Vichy French government grants Germany the use of the port of Bizerta to bring in food, clothing, and other supplies that are not directly related to the military.
  • East Africa: Day 29 of 186 of the Battle of Madagascar.
  • CBI - China: Day 1,792 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
    • Day 19 of 124 of Japan's Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign, launched to punish anyone suspected of aiding the Doolittle raiders in China. Roughly 250,000 Chinese will be killed.
  • PTO - Australia: Day 3 of 9 of the Battle at Sydney Harbor.
  • PTO - Malaya: Day 104 of 357 of the Battle of Timor Island.
  • PTO - Midway: US Navy sends 25 submarines to patrol west of Midway in hopes of detecting the incoming Japanese fleet. The USS YORKTOWN, USS ENTERPRISE and USS HORNET make a rendezvous 350 miles northeast of Midway.
  • PTO - New Guinea: US 5th Air Force B-17s bomb the dock and military camp area at Rabaul.

1943 — , June 2

  • USA: Day 3 of 9 of the Los Angeles Zoot Suit Riots.
  • Russian Front - North: Day 633 of 872 of the Siege of Leningrad.
  • Russian Front - North: Day 394 of 658 of the Siege of the Kholm Pocket.
  • Russian Front - South: The Soviet Air Force bombs Kiev in Ukraine and Roslavl in Russia while the Luftwaffe bombs Kursk, Russia.
  • MTO - Italy: Day 12 of 20 of the naval and aerial bombardment of Pantelleria Island. US 12th Air Force RAF Wellingtons night bomb on the island. During the day, the island is hit again by US planes as well as targets at Milo, Sicily, and in Sardinia.
  • CBI - China: Day 2,157 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
    • Day 22 of 23 of the Battle of West Hubei. US 14th Air Force provides air support. Japanese forces are in full retreat along the Yangtze River.
  • PTO: Day 7 of 47 adrift in a raft for the survivors of B-24 GREEN HORNET that crashed 850 miles from Hawaii.
  • PTO - Alaska: Day 361 of 435 of the Battle of Kiska, Aleutian Islands.
  • PTO - New Guinea: Day 42 of 148 of the 2nd Battle of Lae-Salamaua. US 5th and 13th Air Forces provide air support.
  • PTO - Solomon Islands: US 13th Air Force attacks gun positions, cargo boats and shipping at Numa Numa and Tinputs.

1944 — , June 2

  • MTO: US 15th Air Force: B-17s begin conducting shuttle bombing missions in Operation FRANTIC. These missions allow bombers to hit targets that are too far away from their own bases. On this day, B-17s leave Tripoli, Libya, hit Debreczen in Hungary and Oradea in Romania, and then land at Poltava, Ukraine, to refuel, rearm and hit other targets on the way back to Libya tomorrow.
    Spotlight...

    B-17 aircraft of 15th USAAF arriving at Poltava Airfield, Ukraine, 02 Jun 44.

    At the Tehran Conference in November 1943, the Allied leaders devised this audacious new form of bombing strategy against Nazi Germany. American heavy bombers stationed in Britain, Libya and Italy would fly strike missions deep into the heart of Nazi territory or occupied Eastern Europe. Afterward, they would land on secret American air bases (to be defended by the Soviets) actually located inside Soviet Russia, re-arm and re-fuel - and then attack a second target on the way home.

    The operation began in June of 1944 and ended in September. It was the only significant Soviet-American military venture of the war.

    As to whether or not Operation FRANTIC could be deemed successful is hard to say. Coalition warfare was complex and demanding enough between the western Allies and Stalin had a way of compounding that. American strategists had hoped in vain that the operation would forge closer ties with the USSR and encourage the ever-wary Stalin to allow access to Siberian air bases for use against Japan.

    Operation FRANTIC:

    TSgt Bernard McGuire with Russia solider, photographed June 1944 at Poltava, Russia.

    Despite the tensions between Soviet and Allied Leadership over Operation FRANTIC, the American airmen were made to feel very welcome by the Soviet personnel assigned to support them.

  • MTO - Italy: Day 133 of 136 of the Battle of Anzio. RAF and US Air Forces provide air support. US troops are now only 20 miles from Rome.
  • MTO - Romania: US 15th Air Force B-24s attack targets in Romania.
  • ETO - France: US 8th and 9th Air Forces hit V-weapon sites and airfields in France, all in preparation for D-Day.
  • Russian Front - North: Day 122 of 191 of the Battle of the Narva Isthmus, Estonia. Both German and Soviet troops remain locked in their defensive positions.
  • Russian Front - South: Day 56 of 60 of the Battle of Romania, 1st Jassy Offensive. Secret negotiations between the Romanian government and the Soviet Union begin in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Russian Front - South: The Bulgarian government approaches the Western Allies to discuss terms of surrender.
  • CBI - Burma: Day 90 of 166 of the UK's Operation THURSDAY. Monsoon season bogs down all operations.
  • CBI - Burma: Day 85 of 147 of the Battle of Myitkyina. US 10th Air Force provides air support. Monsoon season bogs down all operations.
  • CBI - Burma: Day 63 of 302 of the Chinese Salween Offensive. US 14th Air Force provides air support. Monsoon season bogs down all operations.
  • CBI - China: Day 2,523 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
    • Day 47 of 259 of Japan's Operation ICHI-GO.
  • CBI - Formosa: The USS GUITARRO sinks the Japanese frigate AWAII off Formosa (Taiwan) in the early morning. Later at the end of the day, she sinks a Japanese destroyer.
  • CBI - India: Day 87 of 118 of the Battle of Imphal-Kohima. At Imphal, the Japanese mount an attack despite overwhelming odds. Japanese troops evacuate from the village of Naga.
  • PTO - Alaska: US 11th Air Force B-24s bomb at Matsuwa Island.
  • PTO - Gilbert Islands: US 7th Air Force B-25s bomb Nauru Island.
  • PTO - New Guinea: Day 7 of 83 of the Battle of Biak. 5th Air Force provides air support.
  • PTO - New Guinea: Day 171 of 597 of the Battle of New Britain. US 13th Air Force provides air support.
  • PTO - New Guinea: Day 42 of 481 of the Battle of Western New Guinea. 5th Air Force provides air support.
  • PTO - Solomon Islands: Day 215 of 295 of the Battle of the Bougainville Islands. US 13th Air Force provides air support.

1945 — , June 2

  • CBI - China: Day 2,888 of 2,987 of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
    • Day 63 of 91 of the Battle of Zhijiang. US 14th Air Force provides air support. Japanese troops continue pulling out of China.
    • Day 55 of 60 of the Battle of West Hunan (near Zhijiang). Japanese troops continue withdrawing from southern China.
  • PTO - Caroline Islands: US 7th Air Force attacks the airfield on Moen Island in Truk Atoll.
  • PTO - Dutch East Indies: Day 33 of 52 of the Battle of Tarakan Island.
  • PTO - Japan: Fighters from USS TICONDEROGA attack the airfields on Kyushu in an attempt stop kamikaze planes from taking off. Meanwhile, 12 Japanese ships are sunk or damaged by naval mines in Japanese waters.
  • PTO - Japan: US 20th Air Force makes night attacks on the kamikaze base at Kyushu Island.
  • PTO - Japan: Day 63 of 83 of the Battle of Okinawa.
  • PTO - New Guinea: Day 523 of 597 of the Battle of New Britain. US 10th Air Force provides air support.
  • PTO - New Guinea: Day 407 of 481 of the Battle of Western New Guinea. US 10th Air Force provides air support.
  • PTO - Philippines: Day 225 of 299 of the 2nd Battle of the Philippines, aka the Liberation of the Philippines or the Philippines Campaign.
  • PTO - Philippines: Day 170 of 244 of the Battle of Luzon. 5th Air Force provides air support.
  • PTO - Philippines: Day 85 of 159 of the Battle of Mindanao Island. 5th Air Force provides air support.
  • PTO - Philippines: Day 77 of 135 of the Battle of the Visayas region. US 5th and 7th Air Forces provide air support.
Day-By-Day listings for June 2 were last modified on Friday, January 29, 2016
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