A heavily escorted convoy arrives in Britain with Australian and New Zealand troops, after setting out in early May.

RAF Bomber Command: 4 Group (Whitley). Bombing - industrial targets - marshalling yards.

10 Sqn. Eight aircraft to marshalling yards Hamm. Seven bombed.

51 Sqn. Nine aircraft to marshalling yards Hamm. Eight got off, seven bombed.

58 Sqn. Seven aircraft to industrial plant Essen. Six bombed; explosion and fires in target area. One FTR.

77 Sqn. Seven aircraft to industrial plant Ludwigshaven. One returned early. Six bombed. Opposition severe.

102 Sqn. Eight aircraft to industrial plant Ludwigshaven. Two returned early, one damaged by Flak and force landed at Manston.

London: In spite of Britain’s defeats, most of its Empire remains loyal to the motherland. Canada, Australia and New Zealand are sending it troops. In East Africa, a key test of the Empire’s loyalty, Sudanese, Somalians, Kenyans and South Africans are fighting the Italians in Ethiopia. Ironically, the highest proportion in terms of population, of new volunteers comes from Eire, part of the Commonwealth although no longer part of the Empire, with a neutral and apparently anti-British government. In India, however, the Hindus and the Congress Party seem "above" the war. In Egypt, some nationalists see Britain’s difficulty as Egypt’s opportunity.

The Italians take up the offensive with an army of 32 divisions, of which 19 were in the first echelon. French General Olry defends with 3 divisions and some light defence works on the crests of hills.

GERMANY: U-127, U-164 laid down.

SPAIN: U-29 refuelled from the German supply ship Bessel in Vigo.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Italian submarine 'Diamante' is sunk by submarine HMS Parthian off Tobruk.

LIBYA: Italo Balbo writes to Marshall Badoglio,

“Our light tanks, already old and armed only with machineguns, are completely outclassed. The machineguns of the British armored cars pepper them with bullets which pierce their armor easily. We have no armored cars. Our antitank defenses are largely a matter of make-do: our modern weapons lack adequate ammunition. Thus the conflict has taken on the character of steel against flesh…” The British, badly outnumbered but highly mechanized, had surprisingly seized the initiative from the start, mainly via their armored car patrols, which raided on the Italian side of the frontier with impunity. Balbo wrote of “infernal armored cars, which run over all types of ground at fifty kilometers per hour”

JAPAN: Tokyo: Japan today took advantage of the fall of France by warning the French administration in Indochina that it must stop helping the Chinese Nationalist government in Chungking immediately.

The protest was delivered by Japan’s foreign minister, Mr. Tani, to the French ambassador. He was warned that France’s governor in Indochina must stop the transit of war materials across the Chinese border or face severe repercussions. At the same time Japan has formally asked Germany and Italy to preserve the status quo in Indochina.

Reports that Japanese forces are massing on Hainan island have increased fears that Japan is about to invade the French colony. French and British ships have been told not to call at Indochinese ports.

CANADA: Minesweepers HMCS Clayoquot and Quatsino laid down Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

U.S.A.: Henry Stimson becomes Secretary for War and Frank Knox becomes Secretary of the Navy in a US cabinet shuffle. President Roosevelt">Roosevelt has brought these prominent Republicans on board to strengthen his Cabinet.
The radio gossip columnist Jimmy Fiddler states that the movies should not be used 'to rouse people of this country to a blind war fever.'
The heavy cruiser USS Vincennes (CA-44) and two destroyers, arrive at the New York Navy Yard from French Morocco with the gold reserves of the Bank of France (all 200 tons) to be deposited in U.S. banks.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: As the damaged 'Scharnhorst ' heads for Germany, 'Gneisenau' makes a feint towards Iceland. 40 miles northwest of the island of Halten near Trondheim, Norway she is torpedoed and damaged by submarine HMS Clyde. Both ships are out of action until the end of the year. Gneisenau has to return to Trondheim for repairs.

Wavell will be told shortly that his successor is to be General Sir Claude Auchinleck, C-in-C India. Although the latter's only combat experience so far in this war has been command of the Anglo-French forces at Narvik, he saw much action in Mesopotamia in 1914-18 and later on the North-West Frontier of India. Known as "The Auk", he is highly regarded and has a keen brain, although he is not as intellectual as Wavell.

GERMANY:

FINLAND: Reservists under 45 are called up.

In south-eastern Finland civilian population in municipalities along the Fenno-Soviet border are evacuated.

U.S.S.R.: A Soviet aerial formation, the 6th Fighter Corps, is set up in Moscow for the defence of the capital. On Sunday 22 June, civil air raid precautions in Moscow are to be tested "under realistic conditions."

SYRIA: The Office Francais d'Information (OFI) [Vichy] announced:

Yesterday the British attempted unsuccessfully to attack Damascus and Merjayoun [Lebanon]. Indian and British troops advanced in the area south and southeast of Damascus, but we succeeded in repulsing them in counterattacks by our armoured units and took 400 prisoners. Yesterday afternoon our troops warded off an enemy attack in the mountainous zone of southern Lebanon. We took 80 prisoners in this operation. Along the coast, the British fleet continued to bombard or positions.

Free French thrust from Deraa to relieve hard-pressed 5 Ind Bde at Mezze fails. Brig Lloyd and the remnants of his brigade surrender, with food and ammunition exhausted. Maj-Gen Evetts (6 Brit Div) is ordered to take over the whole eastern sector. He is reinforced by two battalions of 6 Aust Div and ordered to take Damascus. In evening, 2/3 Bn opens renewed attack on Mezze and Beirut road, clearing forts southwest of Damascus. A French counter-attack recaptures some of the heights and the CO and HQ of 2/3 Bn, but they are freed by another Australian attack in the morning. A detached coy of 2/3 Bn cuts the Damascus-Beirut road. (Michael Alexander)

CANADA: Minesweeper HMCS Brockville launched Sorel, Province of Quebec.

U.S.A.: Major-General Henry "Hap" Arnold is appointed C-in-C of the re-named US Army Air Force.
Jack McKillop adds: The U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) is created and the Office, Chief of the Air Corps and the Air Force Combat Command are assigned to the USAAF. Major General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold is named Chief of the USAAF and made directly responsible to the Army Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshall. The reason for the change is to coordinate the activities of the Air Force Combat Command and the office of the Chief of the Air Corps.

Washington: Addressing Congress regarding the sinking of the US merchant freighter SS Robin Moor by the German submarine U-69 on 21 May 1940, Roosevelt">Roosevelt accuses the Nazi government of being international outlaws, engaging in piracy with the aim of world conquest. 

In his speech, the President notes that the sinking of the ship is a "warning that the United States may use the high seas of the world only with Nazi consent. Were we to yield on this we would inevitably submit to world-domination at the hands of the present leaders of the German Reich. We are not yielding and we do not propose to yield." The speech is forwarded to the German Embassy for their information.

The USN's Task Group 2.6 consisting of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7), the heavy cruiser USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37) and two destroyers departs Hampton Roads, Virginia, for a neutrality patrol that ends at Bermuda on 4 July. Serving in USS Wasp are Marine Bombing Squadron One (VMB-1), Fighting Squadron Seventy One (VF-71) and Scouting Squadron Seventy Two (VS-72).

Three USN submarines conduct deep submergence tests off Portsmouth, New Hampshire. At 0738 hours, USS O-9 (SS-70) submerged with 33 men aboard; the sub did not surface thereafter but was crushed by the pressure of the water 402 feet (122.5 m) below. The sub went down 15 miles (24.1 km) off Portsmouth in the area where submarine USS Squalus (SS-192) had been lost on 23 May 1939. The sub was too deep for rescue efforts and the ship was declared a total loss on 22 June.

In baseball, the Detroit Tigers play the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium in New York City and Joe DiMaggio goes 4-for-5 against Tiger pitchers Bobo Newsom and Archie McKain. DiMaggio's double and three singles extends his hitting streak to 33 games.

Two motion pictures are released in the U.S. today. 
"Out of the Fog," a gangster drama, based on Irwin Shaw's play "The Gentle People," is directed by Anatole Litvak and stars Ida Lupino, John Garfield, Thomas Mitchell, Eddie Albert, George Tobias, Leo Gorcey and John Qualen. The plot has fisherman Mitchell being shaken down by gangster Garfield. Afraid to go to the police, Mitchell decides to take matters in is own hands after Garfield falls in love with Mitchell's daughter (Lupino).

"The Reluctant Dragon," an animated documentary, has Robert Benchley taking the audience on a tour through the Walt Disney studios. Alan Ladd plays one of the animators we meet along the way.  

ATLANTIC OCEAN: U-203 sights the American battleship USS TEXAS (BB-35) inside Germany's blockade area around Britain. U-203 attacks, but the attack fails and the U-boat remains undetected by the Texas.

The USN's battleship USS Texas (BB-35), escorted by three destroyers, is sailing in what the Germans consider as the war, or "blockade" zone, when sighted by the submarine U-203. The Americans are unaware of the sub but they outdistance the sub preventing an attack. As a result of this event, Grossadmiral Erich Raeder, chief of the German Navy, issues an order stating that U.S. warships may only be attacked if they cross the western boundary of the blockade area by 20+ miles (32.2+ km) or within the 20-mile (32.2 km) strip along the western edge of the zone.

After her capture on May 9 she has been berthed at Freetown, Sierra Leone. There she has been crewed by a scratch crew of volunteers who are all looking for a rapid means of returning to the UK having recently lost their own ships. These crew included Peter de Neumann (George Medal, later Captain) who is due to be married and is trying to get home quickly. He signs on as Second Officer.

CRITON sails in convoy SL78, but cannot maintain convoy speed due to the earlier sabotage. She is ordered back to Freetown at noon by the convoy escort, HMS ESPERANCE BAY. (Bernard de Neumann)

U-123 sank SS Ganda.

U.S.S.R.: The Germans reach Sevastopol Harbour after heavy fighting.

Soviet submarine Shch-214 of the Black Sea Fleet is sunk by an Italian Torpedo boat off Cape Aitodor. (Mike Yared)(146 and 147)

NEW GUINEA: US 6th Army HQ is established at Milne Bay by General Krueger.

The 17th Australian Brigade successfully repels a Japanese attack in the area of Mubo.

TERRITORY OF ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: The 11th Air Force dispatches 7 B-24s, 1 B-17 and 1 LB-30 to bomb Kiska which is fogbound. Three aircraft abort and 3 bomb the target through the fog.
USS S-27 continues her adventure.

CANADA: British Columbia: The Japanese submarine HIJMS I-26, shells the Government Telegraph Station at Estevan Point on Vancouver Island, but misses the target. HMCS Moolock and Santa Maria dispatched to the area but no further contact reported. There was very little damage and no loss of life as a result of this incident. This was the only known time that Canadian territory was taken under enemy fire during World War II.

Frigate HMCS (ex-HMS) Nene laid down.

Minesweeper HMCS Lachine commissioned.

U.S.A.: The Air Corps Ferrying Command is redesignated Air Transport Command (ATC). ATC is tasked not only to deliver aircraft but the world-wide air transport of personnel, supplies and mail.

Major General James E. Chaney, Commanding General European Theater of Operations U.S. Army (ETOUSA), is recalled from the UK and will be replaced by Brigadier General Dwight D. Eisenhower. General George C. Marshall's letter of instruction to Eisenhower reveals a plan to integrate all US air units in the UK into the 8th Air Force. The broad objective of the USAAF in the ETO is to attain "air supremacy over Western Continental Europe" in preparation for a future invasion of the Continent.

The USAAF's Eighth Air Force in England flies three missions.

Mission 425: In the morning 1,548 bombers, in five forces, are dispatched to attack 14 strategic targets in northern Germany and V-weapon sites in France; 49 bombers are lost.

1. 126 B-24 Liberators bomb V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area; one B-24 is lost; escort is provided by 44 P-47 Thunderbolts; they claim 3-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; one P-47 is lost.

2. Of 341 B-17 Flying Fortresses dispatched, 137 hit Fallersleben, 95 hit Magdeburg/Rothensee and 52 hit Konigsberg; they claim 2-0-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; six B-17s are lost.

3. Of 191 B-24s, 169 hit Hannover/Misburg and three hit a target of opportunity; one B-24 is lost; escort is provided by 98 P-38 Lightnings, 86 P-47s and 38 P-51 Mustangs and 81 Ninth Air Force P-51s; they claim 10-1-10 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 8-0-3 on the ground; one P-38, one P-47 and one P-51 are lost.

4. Of 512 B-17s dispatched, 107 hit Hamburg/Eurotank oil refinery, 60 hit Harburg/Ebano oil refinery, 54 hit Hamburg/Schliemanns oil refinery, 53 hit Harburg/Rhenania oil refinery, 53 hit Hamburg/Deut.Petr.AG, 50 hit Hamburg/Rhenania-Ossag oil refinery, 26 hit Hamburg/Schindler oil refinery, 12 hit Brunsbuttel canal lock and two hit targets of opportunity; seven B-17s are lost; escort is provided by 96 P-38s and 48 P-47s. 

    Personal Memory: My diary for today reads: "Hamburg (Yipe!) Germany, Bombed oil refinery and storage. Made good use of CAVU weather. Sure went up in flames. FLAK so thick you couldn't see through it but we flew through it. Got plenty of holes this trip. (263). Sure earned that Oak Leaf Cluster" (to air medal.) The 303rd Bomb Group furnished 39 B-17s for this seven hour mission. Each plane was loaded with 2,100 gallons of fuel and twelve 500 pound bombs that we were to drop on the Rhenania-Ossag Mineralolwerkes A.G. from 25,000 feet. The Eighth Air Force put up 853 B-17s and 695 B-24s to make a total of 1,548 heavy bombers and with clear weather it went well for the attackers. The attackees were also busy with their FLAK guns and we made it easy for them by flying a 41 mile bomb run against a headwind making our ground speed barely over 120 MPH which gave the German gunners 15 minutes to track us in a straight line. Every now and then we could see a bomber go down.  Our bo  mbs were fused at one tenth second at the nose and one fortieth at the tail and we busted the target wide open with raging fires out of control.  Of our 39 bombers only two escaped damage. Eleven, including our "Buzz Blonde" suffered major damage and three crew members were wounded by FLAK. Our Bombardier, Ed Cooper was flying with our wingman for training a new bombardier. While on the bomb run a piece of FLAK came in the nose, struck him in the center of his chest and knocked him six feet back into the navigators position. The FLAK suit obviously saved his life and we helped him cut it out. The FLAK suit is quite a piece of work with overlapping tantalum plates that clasped the piece of shrapnel saving him from a severe penetrating wound. All he got was a big bruise on his chest. And no purple heart.  A few flight crews were recommended an extra DFC, including Beiser and me, since we flew the airplane with two broken cables. When the powers that be found that the airplane  did not react to any of this damage the idea was dropped. It took 4 days to repair our poor old Buzz Blonde and tomorrow we would have to take another plane to Berlin. Ouch! Score: Milk Runs 12, Others 6. (Dick Johnson)

5. Of 358 B-24s, 245 hit Politz, 71 bomb Ostermoor and 12 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 10-3-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 34 B-24s are lost; escort is provided by 50 P-38s and 221 P-51s; they claim 28-1-9 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 5-0-9 on the ground; three P-38s are lost. 

Mission 426: In the afternoon, 33 B-17s and 196 B-24s attack ten V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area; one B-24 is lost; escort is provided by 72 P-47s and 40 P-51s.

Mission 427: Five B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.

25 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions in France.

Submarine HMS Utica commissioned.

FRANCE: US forces become entangled with the outer defences of Cherbourg about 5 miles form the City.

About 370 B-26 Marauders and A-20 Havocs of the USAAF's Ninth Air Force bomb nine V-weapon sites and a coastal defence battery at Houlgate; 1,000+ fighters operating over frontline areas, the Cherbourg Peninsula, and south to Dreux, bomb and strafe rail lines, marshalling yards, bridges, troop concentrations and other targets.

ITALY: British troops take Perugia.

INDIA: 

In the China-Burma-India Theater, the unified Eastern Air Command (EAC), which has operational control of RAF and USAAF units in the CBI, is reorganized into six components:

1. EAC Strategic Air Force consisting of RAF and USAAF heavy bombers.

2. Third Tactical Air Force consisting of RAF and USAAF medium bombers.

3. Photographic Reconnaissance Force consisting of RAF and USAAF photo recon units.

4. Tenth Air Force consisting of USAAF fighter and troop carrier units and a combat cargo squadron.

5. RAF 239 Wing

6. Air Task Force consisting of the USAAF's 1st Air Commando Group and 3d Combat Cargo Group.

COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES: A USN submarine in the Pacific sinks an army cargo ship.

The submarine USS Narwhal (SS-167) lands four U.S. enlisted men and supplies on Panay Island in the Philippines and then evacuates 13 men and one woman.

MARIANAS ISLANDS: The Japanese Fleet withdraws after yesterdays action against TF 58. They intend to refuel so they can continue their plan with the aircraft launched yesterday. They believe these planes have landed on bases in the islands. They are unaware of the actual losses.

Late in the afternoon, planes from TF 58 are attacking. The carrier Hiyo is sunk, a battleship and a cruiser are damaged. The returning US strike plans reach their carriers in darkness. Admiral Mischner orders the flight decks illuminated to assist their return. Although 72 planes are lost in addition to the 20 in combat; only 16 pilots and 33 aircrew are not rescued.

Jack McKillop adds: At 0230 hours, a detachment of Night Fighting Squadron Seventy Seven [VF(N)-77] equipped with Grumman F6F-3N Hellcats in USS Essex (CV-9) find that the Japanese have turned the lights on at the Tiyan Airstrip on Guam.

The Hellcats strafe the airstrip until the lights are turned off. The lights go on again at 0410 hours and the F6F-3N Hellcats destroy 3 of 4 Aichi D3A Navy Type 99 Carrier Bombers, Allied Code Name "Val," that are taking off. Task Group 58.4, the carriers USS Cowpens, USS Essex and USS Langley, that has remained off the Mariana Islands launches against Guam and Rota Islands; the Americans destroy 18 Japanese aircraft in the air and 52 on the ground at Orote Field on Guam.

During the night of 19/20 June, the USN's Task Groups 58.1, 58.2 and 58.3 sailed westward to attack the Japanese First Mobile Fleet which has about 100 operation aircraft. The Americans launch carrier-based search planes at dawn in addition to PBM Mariners based at Saipan and PB4Y-1 Liberators based on Los Negros Island. The Japanese are finally located at 1540 hours by a Torpedo Squadron Ten (VT-10) TBM Avenger in USS Enterprise (CV-6) but the radio message from the aircraft is garbled. It isn't until 1605 hours that the position of the Japanese ships is pinpointed and at 1621 hours the carriers turned into the wind and launch 216 aircraft in just 11 minutes. 

The air strike consists of 84 F6F Hellcat fighters, 54 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers (VT-24 aircraft are the only ones carrying torpedoes; the rest have bombs), and 51 SB2C Helldiver and 26 SBD Dauntless dive bombers.

The Japanese First Mobile Fleet continues to retreat after their defeat yesterday. Carrier aircraft searching for the fleet are joined by Martin PBM Mariners based at Saipan and Consolidated PB4Y Liberators based at Momote Airdrome on Los Negros Island but a Torpedo Squadron Ten (VT-10) Grumman TBF Avenger from USS Enterprise (CV-6) spots the Japanese fleet refueling at 1830 hours local. 30 minutes prior to dusk. 

The Americans immediately launch an air strike consisting of 54 TBF/TBMs, 51 Curtiss SB2C Helldivers, 26 Douglas SBD Dauntlesses and 84 F6Fs from the aircraft carriers USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) and USS Lexington (CV-16) plus the light aircraft carriers USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24), USS Monterey (CVL-26) and USS Jacinto (CVL-30).. The attack begins at 1840 hours local. An estimated 35 Mitsubishi A6M Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighters, Allied Code Name "Zeke," meet the attack. 

The first ships sighted by the Americans are two oilers and two of them are attacked and so badly damaged that they were later scuttled. The aircraft carrier HIJMS Hiyo is attacked by four TBM Avengers of VT-24 in the light aircraft carrier USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) and the ship is hit by at least one torpedo and later sinks. U.S. dive bombers then attack the aircraft carriers HIJMS Zuikaku and HIJMS Junyo and the light aircraft carriers HIJMS Chiyoda and HIJMS Ryuho and the battleship HIJMS Haruna; all five ships are damaged.

The Americans also have problems; their aircraft are 275-300 miles (443-483 km) from their carriers and they will be low on fuel when they arrive. The first aircraft return to their ships at 2045 hours on an exceptionally dark night. Admiral Mitscher, who always showed an unusual concern for his flyers, makes an unusual decision. He orders that all ships in the fleet turn on their lights and destroyers are to fire star shells during the two hours it takes to recover the aircraft. Despite these efforts, 35 SB2Cs, 28 TBMs and 17 F6Fs are forced to ditch at sea; all but 16 pilots and 33 aircrew are rescued during the next 48 hours.

During the two day battle, the Japanese have lost 395 carrier aircraft and an estimated 50 land-based aircraft from Guam. US loses are 130 aircraft and 76 pilots and aircrew primarily from today's mission.

SAIPAN: The US 27th Division begins clearing the south end of the island while the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions continue their advance north.

CANADA:

U.S.A.: "Attack! Battle of New Britain," a 59-minute documentary depicting the attack by Allied forces on the Japanese strong-holds on New Britain Island, is released in the U.S. The film is narrated by Leo Genn and Burgess Meredith.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 526, 1. The submarine, USS Grayback, is overdue from patrol and must be presumed to be lost.

2. The next of kin of casualties of the Grayback have been so notified.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 57, United States Marines and Army infantrymen are continuing to advance on Saipan Island closely supported by aircraft bombing by Army and Marine artillery and Naval gunfire against severe enemy artillery fire. Our troops now hold the entire southern portion of the island from the southern outskirts of Garapan across to the center of the western shore of Magicienne Bay.

Several strong pockets of enemy resistance within this area are being heavily attacked by our forces.

During June 19 (West Longitude Date) the airfields on Tinian Island were bombed by our aircraft and shelled by our surface units.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 450, Truk Atoll was bombed by Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force on June 18 (West Longitude Date). Airfields on Moen Island were principal targets. No fighter interference was encountered and antiaircraft fire was meagre.

A single Seventh Army Air Force Liberator bombed Ponape on June 18. Nauru Island was attacked on June 18 by Seventh Army Air Force Mitchell bombers which shelled and bombed antiaircraft emplacements and buildings. Antiaircraft fire was intense but inaccurate.

Enemy positions in the Marshalls were attacked during the day and night of June 18 by Catalina search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing, and Navy Hellcat fighters. Antiaircraft fire did sufficient damage to a Dauntless dive bomber to force it down on the water before reaching its base. The crew was rescued by a Catalina search plane of Group One, Fleet Air Wing Two. (Denis Peck)

Destroyer escort USS Traw commissioned.

Minesweeper USS Signet commissioned.