This day in the war in the Pacific 65 years ago.

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 6 attack missions, 2 of which abort, are flown to Kiska Island by B-24's, B-25's, P-38's, and P-40's; numerous targets hit and strafed include installations at North Head and South Head.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's, B-17's, and B-24's bomb barges, small craft, villages, grounded planes, trails, and military camps at numerous points, including areas in or around Bogadjim, Salamaua, Manokwari, and Larat and along the Bubui, Masaweng, Mindjim, and Kofebi Rivers and Bogadjim Road. Lost is B-17E "Red Moose Express" 41-2634. The W coast of Borgen Bay and an island in Marien Harbor are also hit. Force landed at Bulldog Airfield is P-400 Airacobra AP-335.

RAAF - Vengence A27-235 crashes on a training mission near Cooktown.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, between 0855 and 1846 hours, 153 tons of bombs are dropped on Kiska Island, a new one-day record; 6 armored weather, photo and reconnaissance missions, flown by 3 B-24's, 2 P-40's, and 2 F-5A's bomb through clouds, take photos and observe fires in Main Camp and on Little Kiska Island; later 48 B-25's, 22 B-24's, 16 A-24s, 8 P-40's, and 40 P-38's fly 17 bombing and strafing attacks to Kiska Island; targets hit include buildings near the radio station, and the gun battery area on North Head. Little Kiska Island and Segula Island are also strafed.The 36th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 28th Composite Group, which has been operating from Adak Island with B-24's since Jun 43, returns to it's base on Amchitka Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): On New Georgia Island in the Solomons Island, B-25's, and US Navy dive bombers, bomb the Gurasai-Kindu Village area; some of the B-25's also strafe areas emitting intense small arms fire, silencing it. P-38's and P-40's claim 11 fighters downed in a series of running battles over the C Solomons.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's bomb and strafe the Itni River area on New Britain Island and hit several villages on Selaroe Island in the Tanimbar Islands. Single B-24's bomb a dump area on the Francisco River, New Guinea and Cape Gloucester Airfield on New Britain Island.

 

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NEW GEORGIA: In the Solomon Islands, U.S. Army ground forces capture Munda Airfield on New Georgia Island.

CENTRAL PACIFIC: A USN submarine sinks a Japanese transport west of Marcus Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): B-24's bomb the shore of Rekata Bay W of the Borokeiello Point area. B-25's and US Navy fighters strafe barges on the NE coast of Gizo. The principal objective of C Solomons campaign: Munda Airfield is taken by XIV Corps forces after 12 continuous days of fierce fighting in the jungle area. The 372d Bombardment Squadron, 307th BG (Heavy), based on Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands, begins operating from Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands with B-24's. The squadron will fly it's first mission on Saturday.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 30+ B-25's pound barges near Madang and at Alexishafen. Lost is B-25D 41-30118 Also they hit the Nuru River bridge and towns of Bogadjim and Saidor; a single B-24 bombs Finschhafen while another hits Vitu Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm A Moore takes command of the newly formed Second Air Task Force based at the recently constructed advance airfield at Tsili Tsili, New Guinea; strikes from here will facilitate operations against Lae, New Guinea.

RAAF - Crashed on a training flight is P-40E A29-1.

 

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SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 20 P-39's and P-40's hit the Tanagaba Harbor area; and 24 B-17's and B-24's, 24 B-25's, and 50+ US Navy and USMC fighters and dive bombers pound the Rekata Bay area, hitting bivouac and supply areas.
A F5A photo recon lightning, escorted bvy eight F4Us from VMF-221 on Banika preform an armed reconnassiance flying 50-100 feet off the water against the seaplane base at Shortland Harbor. They suprise enemy Rufe and Jake seaplanes taking off, but are attacked by about a dozen A6M Zeros in the air, probably from Ballale patroling overhead. They shoot down five enemy planes. Two F4Us are damaged, one piloted by Bill Blakeslee goes MIA.
The 63d Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group, arrives on Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands from the US with C-47's. The squadron begins flying missions upon arrival.

SOLOMONS: Japanese installations on Santa Isabel Island are attacked: 20 USAAF P-39 Airacobras and P-40s hit the Tanagaba Harbor area; and 24 USAAF B-17s and B-24 Liberators and 24 B-25s, join 50+ USN and USMC F4U Corsairs and SBD Dauntlesses which the Rekata Bay area, hitting bivouac and supply areas.
Shortly before 2400 hours local, the Battle of Vella Gulf is joined as six destroyers of the USN's Task Group 36.2 (Commander Frederick Moosbrugger) attack four Japanese destroyers attempting to bring troops and supplies to Kolombangara Island in Vella Gulf; USN destroyers USS Dunlap, USS Craven, and USS Maury sink IJN destroyers HIJMS Kawakaze, HIJMS Hagikaze, and HIJMS Arashi, at position 07.50S, 156.47E. U.S. forces suffers no damage.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): During the night of 6/7 Aug, B-24's bomb Laha Airfield on Amboina Island.

 

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SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 16 B-24's and 40+ B-25's, plus nearly 30 US Navy airplanes, pound the harbor and shore areas of Bairoko. The 64th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group, transfers with C-47's from Tontouta, New Caledonia to Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides Islands.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-24's thoroughly pound the Salamaua area and also hit Kela Village. On Timor Island, B-25's hit Cape Chater Airfield and Lautem. Lost on a flight from Townsville to Brisbane is C-47 41-7733 with 27 crew and passengers died in this crash. Lost on a flight to Brisbane is C-47 41-7733.

 

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SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): On Kolombangara 23 B-25's, with P-38's, P-39's, and US Navy F4U's as cover, bomb Vila and Buki harbor. The 72d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), which has been operating from Guadalcanal Island with B-17's since Oct 42, ceases combat operations and regroups at it's base on Espiritu Santo Island
in the New Hebrides Islands. The squadron will transition to B-24D's and re-enter combat in Oct 43.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-24's attack Larat, shipping at Semboh, and barges at Kokas. Lost is B-24D "Big Emma" 41-23751. The 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, based at Amberley Field, 25 miles (40 km) W of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia begins operating from Port Moresby, New Guinea with P-38's. The squadron will fly it's first mission on Thursday.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 1 B-24 flies photo reconnaissance over various Kiska Island sites

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 10 B-25's, with fighter cover, bomb Vila. Shortly thereafter 22 B-24's strike the same target.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-17's, B-24's, and B-25's bomb Salamaua, Lae, Nuk Nuk, Samoa Harbor at the mouth of the Francisco River, a barge near Reiss Point, and bridges on the Bogadjim-Ramu road. Barges and machine gun positons along Borgen Bay on New Britain Island, installations at Unea in the Bismarck Archipelago, and targets of opportunity at Alilit in the Moluccas Islands are bombed. Amboina Island, in the Moluccas Islands is thoroughly pounded.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, P-38's, P-40's, A-24s, B-24's and B-25's bomb and strafe various targets on Kiska Island; direct hits are scored on revetments W of the Wheat Grove and on gun emplacements, as well as on buildings on Little Kiska Island. HQ Eleventh Air Force transfers from Elmendorf Field, Anchorage to Adak Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon Islands, Colonel William A Matheny becomes acting Commanding General, XIII Bomber Command, a position he is officially assigned to on 30 Sep 43. P-40's and P-39's turn back about 40 fighters attacking US bulldozers working on Munda Airfield on New Georgia Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 20+ B-24's pound airfields in the Salamaua area; 12 B-25's hit barges in the Lae area and AA positions W of Borgen Bay; and 6 A-20's bomb and strafe barges in Labu Lagoon and Gasmata. Lost after a mid-air collision is C-47 42-23700 near Terapo.

 

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Aug 14th 1943
RAAF - Beaufighters of No. 30 sqn conduct barge sweeps around Gasmata on New Britain.
B-25's from No. 18(NEI) sqn bomb wharf installations at Koepang. 4 japanese fighters intercept with no losses to bith sides.
Hudson's from No. 2 sqn based at Darwin bomb the jetty at Tenau.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In B-24's, B-25's, A-24s, and P-38's pound Kiska Island targets in 11 attack missions; later, 10 reconnaissance, strafing and photo missions to Kiska are flown by 3 P-38's, 26 P-40's, 4 F-5A's and 1 B-24. 9 B-24's from Attu Airfield drop bombs and incendiaries on Paramushiru, including Kashiwabara Airfield and Shimushu where the Kataoka naval base and staging area are hit. 40 enemy aircraft challenge the attackers, which score 4 confirmed kills, 1 probable, and 4 possibles.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): The 76th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, transfers from Lingling to Hengyang, China with P-40's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon Islands, 5 B-24's hit a supply area on the E side of Suavanau Point, Santa Isabel Island and on Papatura Fa Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-24 on armored reconnaissance sinks an enemy freighter NW of Kavieng on New Ireland Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. The Second Air Task Force completes a movement to Tsili Tsili Airfield, New Guinea

 

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ALASKA: The USN Task Unit 16.6.1 consisting of the heavy cruisers USS Indianapolis and USS Salt Lake City, the light cruisers USS Detroit, USS Raleigh and USS Richmond, and 5 destroyers bombard Kiska Island between 0712 and 0733 hours local with 85 rounds of 8-inch, 450 rounds of 6-inch and 1,072 rounds of 5-inch shells. Scouting aircraft are launched by the cruisers to spot the shellfire but damage is difficult to assess because of the excellent camouflage the departed Japanese had used.
Later in the day, US Eleventh Air Force B-24s and B-25 Mitchells fly 26 bombing, strafing, and radar and photo reconnaissance sorties over Kiska Island targets from bases on Adak Island. From Amchitka Island P-40s, P-38 Lightnings, B-24s, B-25s, and A-24 Dauntlesses fly 70 bombing sorties over the island and are joined by B-24s, P-40s, and F-5A Lightnings flying 6 reconnaissance and photo sorties. Targets include the runway, harbor and shipping installations, army barracks, and the Rose Hill area.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomon Islands, the US Thirteenth Air Force dispatches 25 B-24s, with 8 P-40s and 22 US Marine F4U Corsairs, to bomb Kahili Airfield on Bougainville Island, causing considerable damage in the dispersal and runway areas. The Allied airplanes claim 11 A6M "Zekes" shot down; 1 P-40 and 1 F4U are lost. During the night, a US Army detachment lands at Barakoma on Vella Lavella Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's hit the Bogadjim-Yaula road. A-20's bomb and strafe Gasmata and nearby barges; and a B-24 hits Cape Gloucester Airfield. The 432d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, based at Amberley Field near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia begins operating from Port Moresby, New Guinea with P-38's. The squadron will fly it's first combat mission on Friday.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): 7 B-25's from Adak bomb targets at Main Camp and North Head on Kiska and Little Kiska Islands. A B-24 flies a special reconnaissance mission. From Amchitka Island B-24's, B-25's, A-24s, and P-38's fly 8 more bombing missions against Kiska Island pounding the Camp area, gun emplacements, buildings, shipping, and airstrip revetments. The 406th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), ceases operating from Adak Island with B-25's and returns to it's base at Elmendorf Field, Anchorage. During the latter part of Aug 43, the 515th and 516th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, 407th Fighter-Bomber Group, cease operating from Amchitka Island with A-24s and return to their base at Drew Field, Tampa, Florida.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 P-40's bomb and strafe enemy installations at Lungling, China.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 4 P-40's become the first Allied aircraft to land on the reconstructed Munda Airfield; after refueling, they are sent on a sweep of the Kolombangara coast; 9 B-17's, with fighter cover, bomb a Kape Harbor depot; and 2 others on armored reconnaissance bomb Vila. 12 B-25's bomb supply areas in the Rekata Bay area; 2 B-24's on armored reconnaissance hit Suavanau Point, 8 bomb the airfield on Ballale. 25 B-24s escorted by 8 US P-40s and 22 F4Us bomb Kahili Airfield, they loose one P-40 and one F4U.

GUADALCANAL: - USS John Penn (APA-51) had just finished unloading a cargo of 155-mm. ammunition off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal. At 2120 she came under attack by enemy torpedo planes. Three minutes later, when the transport took one of the planes under fire, it burst into flames and crashed into her
mainmast. About that same instant a torpedo hit from another plane hit the ship. Although vigorous efforts were made to save her, John Penn went down stern first at 2150.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 59 B-24's, B-17's, and B-26's drop 175 tons of bombs in the Salamaua area in the heaviest single day strike by the Fifth Air Force to date.
"The most sensational of the early raids carried out by the 380th BG (Heavy), in view of the planes and techniques available at that time, occurred today, against strategic Balikpapan on the island of Borneo. At 1730, eleven B-24's carrying 69 x 500-pound bombs took off from Darwin and headed out across the Timor Sea in cloudy and turbulent weather. One aircraft was forced to turn back and another failed to find the target, but between midnight and 0145, nine planes hovered over the oil refineries, tanks, and harbor installations, dropped their bombs from between 5,000 and 8,500 feet, and claimed forty-eight 'hits.' As the last plane turned for the long flight back to the base, two refinery areas and one medium-sized vessel were afire and seven large oil-tanks were exploding. In just under seventeen hours from the take-off, eight of the nine aircraft had returned. The ninth, short of fuel, had crash-landed, but all crew members were safe."

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 2 B-24's fly a special radar ferret and reconnaissance mission; 1 B-25, 8 B-24's, and 10 P-38's then fly 2 attack missions to Kiska Island, bombing with unobserved results.

SOUTH PACIFIC (Thirteenth Air Force): 9 B-17's bomb the Rekata Bay area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 50+ B-24's, B-17's, and B-25's pound the Salamaua area battle zone; with close air and artillery support, US forces push to the crest of Roosevelt Ridge; the enemy retains several ridges along Dot Inlet; and A-20's strafe barges near Finschhafen. On New Britain Island in the Bismarck Archipelago, B-25's hit barges at Talasea and Rein Bay, and other B-25's bomb Koepang on Timor Island. HQ 475th Fighter Group and it's 431st, 432d and 433d Fighter Squadrons transfer from Amberley Field to Dobodura, New Guinea with P-38's. The 431st and 432d are operating from Port Moresby, the 431st until Oct 43 and the 432d until Sep 43; the 433d will fly it's first mission tomorrow.

 

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Aug 15th 1943

RAAF- 4 sqn Wirraway's based at Berry strip New Guinea, conduct photo recce and supply drop missions for Allied troops.
Boston's fron 22 sqn bomb and strafe a supply dump on the Anwek River, New Britain while 30 sqn Beaufighters fly an offensive sweep through areas of New Britain.
Spitfires from 79 sqn and p-40's from 76 sqn are kept busy during the day flying escort missions to C-47's ferrying men and material between Kiriwina and Goodenough Is.
Darwin based Beaufighters from 31 sqn fly top cover to an Allied convoy as well as carrying out an anti-shipping sweep, whilst 2 Hudson's from 2 sqn, also based in the Darwin area attacked Keaukwa. Zero's intercepted with A16-181 failing to return.

 

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Aug 16th 1943

RAAF- 4 sqn Wirraway's are out again flying photo-recce and supply drop missions in support of Allied ground forces.
Beauforts from 7 sqn based on Horn Is a busy with their daily anti- sub patrols between the mainland and New Guinea whilst A hudson from 6 sqn based at Guerney strip flies recon over Woodlark Is.
P-40's from 77 sqn fly escort to C-47's operating between Goodenough Is and Kiriwina.
Darwin based units are also active with Hudson's from 2 sqn attacking Japanese forces at Taberfane and B-25's from 18 sqn bombing Langoer. Beaufighters from 31 sqn also fly convoy patrols and anti-shipping sweeps.

 

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Aug 17th 1943

RAAF- Hudson's from No. 2 sqn bomb the Japanese held village of Ossu on Timor. Other aircraft fly anti-sub patrols and anti-shipping sweeps throughout the day.
Beaufighters of 30 sqn fly a successful barge sweep across areas of new Britain heavily damaging several vessels. Meanwhile Darwin based Beaufighters from 31 sqn attack the floatplane base at Taberfane destroying 4 enemy aircraft and damaging a further machine at it's moorings. No Beaufighters are lost.
Spitfires from 457 sqn RAAF based at Darwin have a successful day shooting down 3 Japanese Dinah recce aircraft operating over the North of Australia. Wing Commander Clive Caldwell also adds to his score by shooting down a further Dinah, bringing the total to 4 destroyed throughout the day.

 

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Aug 18th 1943

RAAF- Darwin based Hudson's from 2 sqn fly anti-shipping sweeps with no encouters with the Japanese. B-25s from 18 sqn fly two missions for the day, one a bombing attack against Fuiloro and a second against Koepang. During this raid two Zero's intercept without causing damage.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, US and Canadian troops invade Kiska Island and discover that the Japanese, under the cover of fog, evacuated their garrison on 28 July. Troops landing are the US Army's 17th, 53d and 184th Infantry Regiments, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment and the 1st Special Service Force. Also landing is the Royal Canadian Army's 13 Infantry Brigade Group. A P-38 bombs and strafes Sniper Hill. The 635th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), 407th Fighter-Bomber Group, based at Drew Field, Tampa, Florida but operating from Amchitka Island, is disbanded and it's A-24s are transferred to other units.

SOUTH PACIFIC (Thirteenth Air Force): Commander Air (COMAIR), New Georgia command post, recently opened at Munda Point by Major General Francis P Mulcahy, USMC, conducts its first full day of operations. Fighters are sent to cover amphibious landings at Vella Lavella where elements of the 25th Infantry Division, and supporting units, go ashore in the Barakoma area and establish a beachhead. Allied airplanes knock down about 25 Japanese aircraft (7 by Army Air Forces fighters) attacking the landings. F4U's also claim 10 Japanese shot down over Kahili. B-25's bomb Papatura Fa and Ighiti Islands in the Rekata Bay area of Santa Isabel Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Fifth Air Force): Ki-48 Lilys of the 208 Sentai led by 1/Lt Imai, escorted by 22 Ki-43 Oscars of the 59th Sentai and 12 Ki-43 Oscars of the 24th Sentai attack Tsili Tsili Airfield for the first time; intercepting P-39's claim 14 airplanes downed for the loss of 3 P-39's. Lost are C-47 "Liliane" 41-18682 and C-47 41-18668. the passengers were personnel of the 41st FS. The 41st was one of the units intercepting. Also lost were 4 P-39s. American claims included 9 of a total of 11 claims for Lily. (Actually only 7 Ki-48s were in the raid). They also claimed 2 of the 3 OSCARS shot down. Japanese losses 6 bombers, 3 fighters. Among the Ki-48 Lily losses were 1210, 1235, 1242, 1249 and 1250 (wrecks inspected at Tsili Tsili, Pesen, and Babauf). Also lost is P-400 AP 347.

Thanks to Richard Dunn for additional information, he adds:
"Souces are confused on Lilys versus Sallys. On 15 Aug there really is no dispute. Captured docs clearly establish them as Type 99 Light Bombers. In addition Impact magazine (Dec 43) has gun camera photos of several Lilys in the action. I also have the crash reports and s/ns from most of the losses. Escort of 22 from 59th and 12 from 24th. Strangely the Type 99 LBs shot down on the 16th were claimed as Kates! There were also 7 LBs in that raid."

In New Guinea, heavy bombers again hit the Salamaua area.

HQ 35th Fighter Group transfers from Port Moresby to Tsili Tsili.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, a B-24 reconnais- sance flight reconnoiters North Head, Main Camp, and northern Kiska Island, and observes friendly forces' unopposed advance into Main Camp.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): Bombers hit and claim 2 small vessels sunk about 130 miles (208 km) S of Rangoon, Burma. The 89th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, transfers from Karachi to Gushkara, India with P-40's. The squadron will fly it's first mission on 8 Sep 43.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 P-40's bomb town of Tengchung, China.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 9 US Thirteenth Air Force B-24s bomb Papatura Fa Island while 12 B-25 Mitchells, 5 B-17s, and 30+ USMC aircraft attack Vila Airfield on Kolombangara Island. On New Georgia Island, Munda airfield is bombarded by IJN artillery on Baanga Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): Oil tanks at Balikpapan, Borneo are hit by 2 B-24's. In New Guinea, 5 B-25's bomb Larat; 15 P-38's and 32 P-47's intercept 25 fighters preparing to attack transport vessels near Tsili Tsili; the strike is completely thwarted and 12 fighters shot down. This marks first the combat use of the P-47 in this theater.

RAAF: Ditched off Fergusson Island is Beaufighter A19-130.

 

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ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): In the Aleutian Islands, 1 B-24 flies over Kiska Island watching friendly forces land on the shore of E Kiska Lake.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 23 B-24's, operating in 3 waves, bomb barracks at Cau Lo, French Indochina. 4 P-40's bomb town of Mangshih, China.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 50+ B-24's and B-17's make a predawn attack on Wewak and satellite airfields at Boram, Dagua, and But, and also hit Tadji and Madang. Lost is B-24D 41-40981

during the midmorning, 30+ B-25's, with 80+ P-38's covering, carry out the day's second bombing and strafing strike on Boram, Wewak, and Dagua; this begins a campaign to neutralize Japanese airfields in preparation for offensive against Lae; Lost is B-24D "Twin Niftys" 42-40348. A-20's again hit enemy forces in the Salamaua area. B-24's bomb oil facilities at Balikpapan.

NEW GEORGIA: In the Solomon Islands, new ground troops are landed on Vella Lavella Island despite air attacks by the Japanese. At dusk, several Japanese aircraft attack shipping and sink an LST and destroy an early-warning radar site. On New Georgia Island, Japanese artillery on Baanga Island continues to shell Munda Airfield.