Prestwick, Scotland: A Consolidated B-24 flies from Washington via Montreal and Newfoundland, thus completing the types first transatlantic delivery. The RAF took 26 B-24s in exchange for a similar number of LB-30s. The first six were YB-24s (designated LB-30As) and they went into the North Atlantic Return Ferry Service. 

Today's flight used a modified B-24A of the USAAF's Air Corps Ferrying Command on this, the North Atlantic Transport Service for the aerial transport of passengers and cargo. The flight originated at Bolling Field, Washington D.C.  

Minesweeping trawler HMS Liscomb laid down.

Submarine HMS Sportsman laid down.

Tug HMS Canute commissioned.

GERMANY: The Wehrmacht High Command announced:

In the course of June 30 the Luftwaffe once again inflicted annihilating blows on the Soviet-Russian bomber and fighter formations. On June 30 the enemy lost 280 aircraft in all, 216 of them in aerial combats. German fighter wings led by [air ace] Lt. Col. Molders and by Major Trautloff particularly distinguished themselves during the fighting by shooting down 110 and 65 planes respectively. At Dunaburg [= Daugavpils in Latvia] the Trautloff Fighter Wing succeeded in destroying all 40 planbes of a Soviet attack group. The Molders Fighter Wing gave equally impressive proof of the superiority of the German Luftwaffe in the region east of Minsk and Bobruisk, where large numbers fo enemy formations soght to disrupt the movements of the advancing German troops. Of the approximately 100 attacking fighters and bombers, the Molders Fighter Wing destroyed 80. In the battle Lt. Col. Molders won his 82nd aerial victory, Captain Joppien his 52nd.

German Luftwaffe formations have intervened in the ground battle with telling effect. They bombed retreating enemy columns east of Lvov where these were marching two or three abreast along the same road; inflicted extremely heavy losses on Soviet troops encircled between Bialystok and Minsk; and attacked the enemy in relay waves where he was falling back through Riga (Latvia). Multitudes of armoured cars and hundreds of trucks were destroyed during these operations, enemy batteries were silenced and transport trains smashed to pieces.

The Opium Law classifies the amphetamine, Perivitin, as a restricted substance, even though ten million tablets are on order for the Heer. (Andreas Ulrich, Der Spiegel. May 6, 2005)(Henry Sirotin)

U-185, U-447, U-448, U-468, U-520, U-621 and U-622 laid down

U-159 launched.

U-131 is commissioned.
 

U.S.S.R.: Army Group North captures Riga and other German forces to the south have crossed the Dvina. West of Minsk the Berezina has been crossed.

Soviet submarine M-81 of the Baltic Fleet is mined and sunk near Laine Bank off Vormsi Island. (Mike Yared)(146 and 147)

LATVIA: German troops occupy the capital, Riga.

SYRIA: Leading elements of 10 Ind Div (Maj-Gen W. Slim) enter eastern Syria from Iraq. 2/25 Bn commence operations to clear enemy from flanks of 21 Aust Bde at Beit ed Dine in the Damour valley. Four Hurricanes of 127 Sqn RAF catch two De520’s over Deir ez Zor and damage one. The Arab Legion destroys a French “light company” (raiding party) at Sukhna, capturing 80 prisoners and six armoured cars. (Michael Alexander)

EGYPT: Cairo: General Sir Claude Auchinleck officially takes over as C-in-C Middle East from General Wavell, who has been appointed C-in-C India. Oliver Lyttelton is appointed Minister of State, and is resident in the Middle East. This removes some of the political responsibilities from CiC India. Churchill has tired of Wavell and with the failure of the latest North African offensive has been able to make changes.

CHINA: Germany and Italy officially recognise the Japanese puppet government of Wang Chingwei.

Chungking: The Chinese Nationalist Kuomintang government has broken off diplomatic relations with Germany and Italy in retaliation for the decision by the Axis powers to recognise its new rival, the Reformed Kuomintang, the puppet regime set up the Japanese in Nanking under General Chingwei.

The Kuomintang leader, General Chiang Kai-shek, has reluctantly ordered the recall of the Kuomintang's ambassador in Berlin and its charge d'Affaires in Rome.

The Axis decision to support the Nanking regime is the result of diplomatic pressure from Tokyo, overriding the views of German officials in China who oppose recognition for Nanking. They argue that, following the outbreak of war with the Soviet Union, Germany and China - the latter at war with the Communists in the north - should unite against Communism.

NEWFOUNDLAND: US naval aircraft begin anti-submarine patrols from bases here.

CANADA: U69 repairs and overhauls her engines at the uninhabited Salvage Islands.

U.S.A.: All men aged 21 or over have to register for the draft today, and US Navy planes start patrolling the Atlantic for U-boats.

The New York Times military analyst, Hanson W. Baldwin says:
The United States army, after a year of expansion and preparation, is months away from adequate combat efficiency. In the opinion of most high ranking officers, not a single division is ready for war, although all of our organised divisions are already superior in training to the divisions we sent to France in 1917 ... Many officers, military iconoclasts though they may be, have out it bluntly and probably correctly: We are still training for a 1917 war.

Icelandic-United States exchange of letter respecting defence of Iceland.

The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) begins television broadcasting. The first show is a broadcast of the Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies baseball game followed by the 1936 motion picture "Death from a Distance" with Lola Lane.

In baseball, the New York Yankees play a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox in Yankee Stadium, New York City before 52,832 fans, including New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. Joe DiMaggio hits two singles against Red Sox pitchers Mickey Harris and Mike Ryba in the first game which extends his hitting streak to 43-games. In the rain shortened second game, DiMaggio hits the ball in the infield off Red Sox pitcher Jack Wilson and third baseman Jim Tabor makes a poor throw to first allowing DiMaggio to get on. The official scorer, Dan Daniel of the New York World Telegram, scores it as a hit instead of an error thus extending DiMaggio hitting steak to 44 games which ties the major league consecutive game hitting streak set by right fielder Willie Keeler of the Baltimore Orioles in 1897.

The first landing, takeoff and catapult launching form an escort aircraft carrier were made aboard USS Long Island (AVG-1), by Lieutenant Commander William D. Anderson, commanding officer of Scouting Squadron Two Hundred One (VS-201).

The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) begins television broadcasting. The first show is a broadcast of the Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies baseball game followed by the 1936 motion picture "Death from a Distance" with Lola Lane.

Submarine USS Blackfish laid down.

Minesweeper USS Starling laid down.

ATLANTIC OCEAN: SS Toronto City sunk by U-108 at 47.03N, 30W.