20 Jun 1943

- The RAF initiated shuttle bombing, where planes departed home fields to bomb Germany, re-armed in Africa, then bomb Italian targets en route back to Britain. The first of these raids targeted Friedrichshafen, Germany. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | CPC]
- 5,550 Dutch Jews in Amsterdam were rounded up for deportation to the east. ww2dbase [CPC]
- Submarine Rock was launched, sponsored by Mrs. B. O. Wells. ww2dbase [Rock | CPC]
- Lord Gort received the field marshal's baton from King George VI at Malta. ww2dbase [John Vereker | CPC]
- USS Bailey was floated out of drydock at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California as repairs continued dockside. ww2dbase [Bailey | DS]
- Destroyer USS Nicholas escorted transport USS Pinkney from Espiritu Santo to Efate, New Hebrides and escorted stores ship USS Aldebaran from Efate back to Espiritu Santo. ww2dbase [Nicholas | DS]
- Captain Arthur Post of US 8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron was shot down near Wide Bay, New Britain. He survived the ordeal and was taken in by natives, who later brought him to coast watchers. ww2dbase [New Britain | CPC]
- Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Uzuki at Truk, Caroline Islands. ww2dbase [Akashi | Truk | CPC]
- The 306th Bomb Group and the air base at RAF Thurleigh had a change of command with Lieutenant Colonel George Robinson relieving Colonel Claude Putnam. ww2dbase [RAF Thurleigh | Thurleigh, England | DS]
- A fist fight between two men, one white and one African-American, at Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan, United States escalated the already-strained racial tension into a riot. ww2dbase [Detroit, Michigan | CPC]
- Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier USS Bogue arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, United States. Task Group 21.12 was dissolved and made eligible for European-African-Middle Eastern Area Engagement Star E207. This sortie was one of six Bogue sortie's singled out in a Presidntial Unit Citation. ww2dbase [Norfolk Navy Yard | Bogue | Norfolk, Virginia | DS]


20 Jun 1943 Interactive Map
Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis
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