7th Air Force – This Day in Aviation https://www.thisdayinaviation.com Important Dates in Aviation History Mon, 02 Jun 2025 16:24:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 3 June 1942, 1624: First Attack https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/3-june-1942-attack/ https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/3-june-1942-attack/#respond Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:12:14 +0000 http://www.thisdayinaviation.com/?p=2272 Continue reading 3 June 1942, 1624: First Attack →]]>
USAAF Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress four-engine heavy bomber takes off at Midway Island during the Battle of Midway. (U.S. Air Force)

3 June 1942: After a U.S. Navy PBY patrol bomber sighted a task force of the Japanese fleet approaching Midway Atoll, nine U.S. Army Air Force Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress heavy bombers of the 431st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Walter C. Sweeney, Jr., launched from the island at 1230 hours.

The B-17s were equipped with bomb bay “Tokyo tanks” and each was armed with four 600 pound (272 kilogram) bombs.

At 1624 hours, the bomber force located Admiral Raizo Tanaka’s Midway Occupation Group 570 miles (917 kilometers) west of the island. They attacked in three flights of three, at 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 feet (2,440, 3,050 and 3,660 meters). Although they reported damage to several ships, in fact none were hit.

© 2018, Bryan R. Swopes

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