USAAF CHRONOLOGY
APRIL - JUNE 1943
4/1/43 NAAF During 31 Mar/1 Apr, Wellingtons bomb Bizerte docks and Karouba Bay seaplane base. During day, A-20's bomb La Fauconnerie and El Djem A/Fs. Ftrs, carrying out rcn missions over wide areas of Tunisia, attack motor transport, tanks, and guns in Sidi Mansour-Djebel Tebaga area. British MBs, LBs, and ftrs hit gun positions N of Oued el Akarit and hit Sfax-El Maou A/F.
4/1/43 Ninth AF P-40's escort bmr missions. MBs and LBs hit parked airplanes and AA batteries at El Maou A/F at Sfax.
4/1/43 Tenth AF 16 B-25's bomb Maymyo railroad sheds. 8 others hit railroad yards at Ywataung. 12 P-40's intercept 9 Zeros near Lingling, claiming 7 shot down. 1 P-40 is lost.
4/1/43 Fourteenth AF Japanese force of 9 ftrs is intercepted in Lingling area by P-40's. 7 ftrs are shot down. 1 P-40 is lost.
4/1/43 Fifth AF B-17's attack convoy off Kavieng, A/Fs at Gasmata and Cape Gloucester, and town of Madang.
Flights of from 1 to 3 MBs or HBs hit several other tgts, mostly isolated shipping and coastline tgts, in NEI and in Solomon Sea.
4/1/43 Thirteenth AF 42 ftrs (P-38's and Navy and Marine aircraft) are sent over the Russells to intercept Japanese aircraft trying to hit US stockpiles on Guadalcanal, naval base at Tulagi, and the incomplete airstrips in the Russells. The air battle lasts for nearly 3 hours. 6 US ftrs are lost, against claims of 20 Japanese airplanes.
4/1/43 Eleventh AF A joint directive by CINCPAC and CG Western Def Cmd orders preparations for LANDGRAB (invasion of Attu). 16 B-24's, 5 B-25's, and 12 P-38's sorties are flown against Kiska from Adak and Amchitka.
Tgts include ship in Gertrude Cove, North Head area, Main Camp and beach. AA fire damages 2 bmrs. Rcn covers Kiska, Attu, Buldir, and Semichis.
4/2/43 NAAF B-25's and A-20's bomb A/F at La Fauconnerie.
4/2/43 Ninth AF During 1/2 Apr, RAF Liberators, under IX BC, bomb ferry terminal at Messina and A/F at Crotone.
During the day, 2 B-24's on special mission bomb ferry terminals at Messina and Villa San Giovanni.
24 B-24's sent to attack Palermo abort because of heavy clouds over tgt. 27 B-24's sent against Naples find the tgt totally obscured by clouds; 9 bomb the area through overcast and 3 bomb Augusta and Crotone. P-40's fly 9 armed rcn and 6 FR and escort missions.
4/2/43 Tenth AF 8 B-25's hit Thazi railroad junction.
4/2/43 Fifth AF A-20'.s hit Kitchen Creek area and Labiabi-Duali area. Single B-24's attack Salamaua, Finschhafen, bridge at Rempi, and A/Fs at Gasmata and Cape Gloucester.
4/2/43 Thirteenth AF P-38's and P-40's attack and set fire to a small cargo vessel in Kokolope Bay.
4/2/43 Eleventh AF 18 B-24's bomb Kiska tgts including North Head. 6 B-25's, 16 P-38's, and 24 P-40's in 6 missions from Amchitka to Kiska, bomb Main Camp and submarine base areas. 4 B-24's bomb runway at Attu.
All aircraft, including 2 B-25's colliding in the air, return safely.
4/3/43 NAAF Weather cancels NASAF bmr operations. NATAF ftrs strafe tanks and trucks at Kebira and Jabal Nasir Allah, and claim 14 aircraft downed in aerial combat over Djebel Berda. B-25's bomb A/F at Sainte- Marie du Zit. WDAF LBs hit motor transport and gun positions N of Oued el Akarit.
4/3/43 Ninth AF B-25's bomb Sfax-El Maou area during 2/3 Apr. P-40's fly FB missions N of Gabes.
4/3/43 Tenth AF 17 B-25's, operating in 2 forces, bomb Myitnge bridge, scoring hits on both approaches.
4/3/43 Fifth AF A-20's hit Kitchen Creek. B-17's pound shipping and A/F at Kavieng. Single B-24's bomb Kavieng and hit Korindindi.
4/4/43 Eighth AF 85 HBs hit industrial installations in Paris area, including Renault armament works and motor works, which are severely damaged. Fierce ftr opposition accounts for 4 US bmrs.
4/4/43 NAAF B-25's bomb small shipping at Carloforte and landing ground at El Djem. B-17's hit Capodichino A/F and M/Y at Naples. P-38's dive-bomb beached freighter off Cape Zebib. Other P-38's escort the bombing raids. NATAF A-20's hit La Fauconnerie A/F while B-25's hit El Djem and Sainte-Marie du Zit A/Fs. Ftrs accompany LBs and MBs on attacks, and carry out numerous patrols, rcn flights, and ftr sweeps over battle areas of Tunisia.
4/4/43 Ninth AF B-24's attack Naples, concentrating on dock area. RAF Liberators, under IX BC, bomb Palermo.
4/4/43 Tenth AF 8 B-25's hit Maymyo engine sheds. 9 others bomb Pyawbwe railroad yards. 7 B-24's heavily damage Thilawa oil refinery.
4/4/43 Fifth AF B-25's and A-20's pound areas along Huon Gulf, around Kitchen Creek and Heaths and Lane Plantations. B-17's bomb town area, and A/F at Kavieng. Single B-17's bomb Salamaua and Cape Gloucester.
4/4/43 SOPAC Adm Mitscher assumes position of COMAIRSOLS.
4/5/43 Eighth AF 82 HBs bomb industrial tgts in Antwerp area. Main force is directed at Erla aircraft factory and Erla engine works. Strong ftr opposition claims 4 bmrs.
4/5/43 NAAF During 4/5 Apr, NASAF Wellingtons bomb Trapani docks and shipping. During day, B-17's bomb A/Fs at Sidi Ahmed, Tunis, Boccadifalco, and Milo. B-25's hit A/F at Bo Rizzo and attack convoy off Cap Bon. P-38's fly several ftr sweeps over Straits of Sicily. 1 force of ftrs claims 16 airplanes destroyed.
NATAF A-20's hit A/F at El Djem and La Fauconnerie. Ftrs attack E-boats off Pont-du-Fahs and vehicles S of Bou Hamran, and fly sweeps, rcn, and patrol over battle area in Tunisia. WDAF and NACAF airplanes hit motor transport W of Cekhira, bomb Djebel Zitouna A/F, and strike shipping in Straits of Sicily. During the day NAAF aircraft claim destruction of nearly 50 aircraft in aerial combat. Today starts Operation FLAX (5-22 Apr) which is designed to destroy, in air and on ground, enemy air transports and escorts employed in ferrying personnel and supplies to Tunisia.
4/5/43 Tenth AF 17 B-25's bomb railroad tgts at Mandalay; 2 others hit Ngamya. 3 B-24's bomb Prome railroad yards; 5 hit Mahlwagon yards and roundhouse. 12 P-40's and a B-25 spt ground forces in N Burma.
4/5/43 Fourteenth AF P-40's on armed rcn strafe 15 horse-drawn wagons at Wanling.
4/5/43 Fifth AF Single B-17's attack occupied areas at several points along Huon Gulf coast, hit Finschhafen on Huon Peninsula, bomb Madang and other points on N coast of New Guinea and hit Cape Gloucester.
4/5/43 Eleventh AF Rcn covers all islands W of Kiska with negative results. 16 B-24's and 6 B-25's bomb Attu runway and Kiska's Main Camp and runway. 4 P-38's fly top cover. Later, 3 B-25's, 16 P-40's, and 16 P-38's bomb Kiska again.
4/6/43 NAAF During 5/6 Apr, Wellingtons bomb dock and shipping at Tunis. During day, B-25's and P-38's attack shipping in Straits of Sicily. 2 forces of B-17's bomb convoy further W, near Zembra I, and hit convoy off Bizerte. Other B-17's bomb docks and ships at Trapani. B-25's and A-20's attack landing grounds and A/Fs at Enfidaville, La Fauconnerie, and El Djem. La Fauconnerie bears brunt of attacks and is well covered. Ftrs escort the bombing raids, fly rcn missions, and attack scattered enemy movement.
4/6/43 Ninth AF B-25's fly 2 missions against concentrations in Oued el Akarit region, scoring hits on buildings, tanks, and numerous vehicles. B-24's hit ferry and slips at Messina harbor. RAF HBs, under IX BC control, bomb Naples area and rail facilities in Messina. P-40's fly escort, ftr sweep, and strafing operations, attacking guns, vehicles, and personnel as British Eighth Army begins assault on Oued el Akarit from which enemy begins withdrawing during the night.
4/6/43 Tenth AF 6 B-24's attack Pazundaung bridge, damaging S approach.
4/6/43 Fifth AF B-25's bomb town area and AA positions at Salamaua. Single B-17's bomb Gasmata and Finschhafen while another strafes Cape Gloucester.
4/6/43 Thirteenth AF Col James M Fitzmaurice becomes CO XIII BC.
4/7/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons attack Tunis and Jabal al Jallud M/Y. Weather cancels all other NASAF missions except for 2 rcn sorties. All available airplanes of XII A Spt Cmd and WDAF hit ground forces which are retreating in all sectors. Ftrs fly sweeps over Medjez el Bab (claiming 3 ftrs downed), scramble mission NW of Oued Zarga (5 ftrs are claimed destroyed), and over 100 other sorties (no encounters).
Highway and motor transport are bombed between Sfax and Sousse. LBs, MBs, and FBs attack concentrations N of Oued el Akarit line. US II Corps makes contact with British Eighth Army on Gabes- Gafsa road.
4/7/43 Ninth AF B-24's attack Palermo harbor. B-25's bomb retreating columns which are being pursued N of Oued el Akarit by British Eighth Army's 30 and 10 Corps. Ftrs carry out bombing and strafing operations in battle area.
4/7/43 Tenth AF 2 MBs temporarily knock out bridge on Ye-u railroad branch, crossing the Mu R between Ywataung and Monywa. 18 B-25's, in 2 forces, bomb Ywataung M/Y. P-40's spt ground forces N of Shingbwiyang. 6 B-24's bomb Japanese HQ at Toungoo.
4/7/43 Fifth AF B-25's hit areas along NE coast of New Guinea from Mur to Singor. B-24's bomb landing ground at Babo and town area of Fak. Single HBs attack shipping and coastal tgts at Lae, Salamaua, Finschhafen, Wewak, Cape Gloucester, and off Lorengau and Kavieng.
4/7/43 Thirteenth AF A large force of Japanese dive bmrs and ftrs is reported by coast watchers to be moving down the 'Slot.' In its path are a convoy off E coast of Guadalcanal, shipping at Koli Pt, and a TF at Tulagi.
Every operable ftr (76) on Guadalcanal is sent up, and the bmrs are moved to SW tip of the island for safety. The air battle takes place off the Russells, near Tulagi, and over the convoy. AAF P-38's and P-39's and Marine and Navy Corsairs and Wildcats claim 39 aircraft shot down, 13 by AAF ftrs. Allied losses total 7 ftrs.
4/7/43 Eleventh AF The rcn airplane aborts shortly after takeoff due to weather.
4/8/43 Eighth AF 56th and 78th Ftr Gps become operational. Added to 4th Gp (already operational), this enables VIII FC to increase activity and paves way for its coming role of escorting bmrs on deep penetrations into enemy territory.
4/8/43 NAAF Weather prevents all NASAF operations except minimum weather rcn. NATAF P-40's and Spitfires fly sweeps and armed rcn over Faid Pass-Fondouk el Aouareb-Kairouan-Ousseltia area as British IX Corps attacks Fondouk. Other ftrs fly widespread rcn and sweeps, attacking motor transport S of Zaghouan. WDAF ftrs hit retreating columns in Cekhira-Sfax area.
4/8/43 Ninth AF P-40's fly 29 bmr escort, armed rcn, and FB missions against retreating columns along coast N of Gabes.
4/8/43 Tenth AF 9 B-25's bomb Meiktila A/F. 6 B-24's attack A/F at Heho. Ft Bayard A/F is strafed by 9 P-40's. Enemy stores at Ningam are hit by 4 P-40's and a B-25.
4/8/43 Fifth AF B-17's and B-24's carry out small harassing strikes, bombing Ulamoa, Finschhafen, and A/F at Kavieng.
4/8/43 Eleventh AF Weather airplane scouts Kiska and islands W of it with negative results.
4/9/43 NAAF Ftrs continue rcn of N half of Tunisia and Straits of Sicily and hit enemy movement and defs over wide areas between Sfax and Enfidaville.
4/9/43 Ninth AF 340th Bomb Gp is assigned to Ninth AF. P-40's in FB role attack Sfax, as British Eighth Army, in pursuit of retreating enemy, reaches position a few mi to the SW on the coast.
4/9/43 Fifth AF B-25's bomb and strafe A/F and town and dock areas at Madang. A-20's hit Kitchen Creek-Mubo area.
Single B-17's attack barges at Bogia, Alexishafen, and Finschhafen, and hit town of Wewak. Vehicles at Lorengau on Manus are strafed.
4/9/43 Eleventh AF A B-24 flies rcn over Kiska, Attu, and the Semichis. P-40's fly rcn over Kiska.
4/10/43 NAAF During 9/10 Apr, Wellingtons bomb troops and transport on roads in area surrounding Enfidaville. The following day, B-17's hit ships at La Maddalena while B-26's follow up the Wellingtons with raid on roads and military concentrations near Enfidaville. FBs also hit ground tgts in Enfidaville areas. Ftrs escort bmrs, carry out rcn, and fly sweeps over battle area from Medjez el Bab to Sousse.
4/10/43 Ninth AF HQ IX FC is transferred to Tripoli. Personnel are to be moved from Egypt, over a period of several weeks. B-24's bomb harbor at Naples. RAF Liberators, under IX BC control, hit Palermo. Allied ground forces take Sfax and continue N to La Hencha.
4/10/43 Fifth AF B-17's and B-24's pound town and dock area of Wewak. Some of the B-17's also bomb Cape Boram and Kairiru I, while some of the B-24's hit Alexishafen and shipping on Wewak. B-25's pound harbors at Bobia and Uligan. A lone B-17 strafes barges SE of Bogia and trucks at Cape Croisilles while another bombs A/F at Arawe.
4/10/43 Thirteenth AF B-24's continue to fly harassing strikes as 3 of the HBs hit Kahili A/F.
4/10/43 Eleventh AF Weather rcn B-24 observed 4 unidentified aircraft near Segula. 3 B-25's, 17 P-40's, and 6 P-38's fly 5 attack missions to Kiska, and negative searches for unidentified airplanes at Segula. Last mission finds Kiska closed in and returns with bombs.
4/11/43 NAAF During 10/11 Apr, Wellingtons bomb A/Fs at Decimomannu and Monserrato. During day, P-38's carry out ftr sweeps and rcn flights, claiming numerous aircraft shot down, including 21 transports destroyed between Cap Bon and Marsala. B-26's bomb Oudna A/F, B-25's hit Sainte-Marie du Zit A/F, and B- 17's strike harbors of Tunis, Marsala, and Trapani. FBs and lbs blast trucks S of Enfidaville road, trucks E of Kairouan, Sousse docks, and numerous other tgts in the NE quarter of Tunisia.
4/11/43 Ninth AF Col Wycliffe E Steele assumes cmd of IX ASC, succeeding Col John D Corkille. B-24's attack Naples harbor. AA is intense and ftrs attack B-24's from all sides, knocking 1 down. The B-24's claim destruction of 3 ftrs. B-25's attack motor transport and concentrations N of Sfax as Allied ground troops push toward Sousse.
4/11/43 Fifth AF B-17's bomb Lae and Finschhafen. Single B-24's bomb Finschhafen 3 times and hit Madang once. B- 25's hit Vila Salazar and another village on Timor. Enemy airplanes attack Oro Bay and destroy 2 merchant vessels.
4/11/43 Thirteenth AF P-38's and Navy ftrs strafe gun positions in Rekata Bay area. B-17's bomb A/Fs at Kahili and on Ballale I.
4/11/43 Eleventh AF 4 B-25's, 22 P-40's, and 8 P-38's hit Kiska 5 times. Last mission aborts due to weather. The other 4 bomb various tgts starting large fires. Some ftrs strafe Little Kiska.
4/12/43 Eighth AF Board of 5 officers of Eighth AF and one of RAF complete formulation of plan for CBO from UK in accordance with mission prescribed by CCS in Casablanca Directive.
4/12/43 NAAF B-17's bomb harbors at Bizerte, and Trapani, and hit shipping in Straits of Sicily. B-25's and A-20's bomb A/Fs at Oudna and Sainte-Marie du Zit. Aircraft of tac units hit enemy movements and fly sweep and rcn throughout NE Tunisia following attack during 11/12 Apr by British aircraft, mainly in Enfidaville, Zaghouan, and Bou Ficha areas.
4/12/43 Ninth AF B-24's of 376th Gp, sent to attack Naples harbor, are prevented by bad weather from bombing primary.
About half return without bombing while the others hit Cosenza and Crotone. Other HBs of same group, in subsequent mission, bomb Naples and secondary tgt of Pizzo. RAF Liberators, under IX BC, are dispatched against Palermo. The primary is attacked, in spite of total cloud cover, but most of bomb tonnage is dropped in Messina harbor. In ground action, British 10 Corps captures Sousse and heads N.
4/12/43 Tenth AF 9 B-25's hit A/F at Magwe. P-40's bomb and strafe ammo and supply dump at Walawbum.
4/12/43 Fourteenth AF P-40's strafe more than 20 vehicles 25 mi E of Loiwing.
4/12/43 Fifth AF B-24's and B-17's pound A/Fs at Rabaul and Gasmata, shipping in Saint George Channel, T/Os in Ubili and Talasea areas, shipping in Hansa Bay, A/Fs at Lae and Nubia, and Bogia harbor. B-24's, operating individually, attack several tgts, scoring hits on Madang dock area and at Toeal. Japanese planes attack Port Moresby in strength but do little damage.
4/12/43 Thirteenth AF Single B-24's continue snooper strikes, hitting Kahili A/F twice during the evening.
4/12/43 Eleventh AF 3 B-25's, 24 P-40's, and 13 P-38's fly 7 missions to Kiska. The ftrs also strafe Little Kiska. AA fire damages 1 P-40 and 1 P-38. The P-38 force-lands safely.
4/13/43 NAAF B-17's pound A/Fs at Castelvetrano and Milo, B-25's hit Oudna A/F, and P-38's bomb cruiser at La Maddalena and other shipping at Porto Torres. Ftrs maintain sweeps and armed rcn over NE Tunisia and Straits of Sicily. During 12/13 Mar, British airplanes bomb Megrine landing ground.
4/13/43 Ninth AF B-24's are dispatched against harbor at Catania. Total cloud cover prevents visual contact with tgt. 1 drops bomb in tgt area, but others jettison load or return to base without bombing. P-40's fly convoy escort. British Eighth Army's 10 Corps, continuing N reaches antitank ditch guarding new enemy positions at Enfidaville and unsuccessfully attempts, on limited scale, to force retreat before the line can be strengthened.
4/13/43 Tenth AF 9 B-25's bomb Myitnge bridge without inflicting further damage to the structure. 9 others hit Monywa A/F. 6 P-40's knock out bridge at Shaduzup.
4/13/43 Fifth AF A-20's bomb and strafe Labiabi area while a single B-17 bombs runway at Finschhafen.
4/13/43 Thirteenth AF P-38's and Navy aircraft bomb A/F at Munda and Strafe barge at Bambatana.
4/13/43 Eleventh AF 15 B-24's, 15 B-25's 28 P-38's and 20 P-40's fly 11 attacks to Kiska. 43 tons of bombs are dropped on Main Camp, North Head, and runway. Ftrs attack Main Camp causing large fires, and also strafe aircraft on the beach. Heavy AA fire damages 2 P-38's, 1 of which later crashes into the sea, and 1 B- 25.
4/14/43 NAAF During 13/14 Apr, NATAF Hurricanes and Bisleys bomb La Sebala A/F and attack transport on Tunis- Pont-du-Fahs road, and WDAF LBs and MRs hit A/Fs at Sainte-Marie du Zit and Korba during 13/14 Apr. During the day, B-17's bomb Elmas, Monserrato, and El Aouina A/Fs. P-38's escort HBs and fly bombing and strafing mission against beached vessel SE of Cape Zebib. A-20's bomb Bordj Toum.
FBs hit motor convoy near Grich el Oued and trucks NE of Dechret Ben Saidane and battery E of Djedeida. Ftrs fly rcn and sweeps throughout Tunisian battle area. NACAF planes maintain sea rcn and patrols.
4/14/43 Ninth AF P-40's fly convoy escort, and carry out ftr sweeps over area as British Eighth Army's 10 Corps continues to make quick jabs at positions at Enfidaville. These attempts to force enemy retreat are unsuccessful.
4/14/43 Tenth AF P-40's, dropping 1,000 lb bombs, hit A/Fs at Myitkyina and Manywet, rendering runways at both unusable.
4/14/43 Fourteenth AF P-40's strafe pack horses S of Tengchung, barracks and warehouses in Lungling, and cattle and trucks N of Lungling.
4/14/43 Fifth AF HBs and MBs carry out widespread but unsuccessful attacks on individual enemy vessels. Japanese aircraft carry out heavy attack on Milne Bay area, severely damaging 1 vessel, beaching 1 vessel, and hitting 2 others, but doing very little damage to AAF facilities in the area. AA defenses and the 40-plus P-40's and P-38's that intercept the enemy strike claim 14 airplanes shot down.
4/14/43 Thirteenth AF XIII AFSC is activated.
4/14/43 Eleventh AF 30 P-40's, 17 P-38's, 9 B-24's and 6 B-25's fly 10 missions to Kiska, bombing and strafing runway, North Head area, installations, parked seaplanes, and facilities on Little Kiska.
4/14/43 ZI Weather Wg is activated to assume responsibility from HQ AAF or supervision of AAFWS (established in 1937 and designated AAF-WS in 1942).
4/15/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons bomb Decimomannu, Villacidro, and Elmas A/Fs during 14/15 Apr. NATAF ftrs attack tanks and trucks at Oum El Djema and concentration near Sidi Ahmed, while others fly rcn and patrols during the day. NACAF B-26's on armed rcn of Naples area attack vessel S of Ustica I.
4/15/43 Ninth AF B-24's attack Catania and Palermo. B-25's hit A/F and area near fuel dump at Sainte-Marie du Zit. P- 40's fly rcn and sea patrol. RAF Liberators, under IX BC, hit Naples and Messina.
4/15/43 Tenth AF 10 B-25's bomb Mandalay M/Y; 9 more bomb M/Y at Ywataung. 8 B-24's hit Thilawa oil refinery while 7 others hit Prome.
4/15/43 Fifth AF B-17's bomb A/Fs at Rabaul, Gasmata, and Lae.
4/15/43 Eleventh AF Rcn over Kiska, Attu, Semichis, and Agattu spots no new enemy activities. 2 bmr missions from Adak and 11 ftr missions from Amchitka, composed of 23 B-24's, 20 B-25's, 25 P-38's, and 44 P-40's, hit Kiska. 1 F-5A takes photos. 85 tons of bombs are dropped. Fires result on North Head and Little Kiska. 1 B-24 shot down in flames, 4 bmrs receive battle damage.
4/16/43 Eighth AF 2 groups of HBs, totaling 77, hit bridges, ports, and naval facilities at Lorient and Brest. Ftr opposition strong.
4/16/43 NAAF NATAF ftrs strafe trucks during 15/16 Apr and during following day. A-20's and FBs bomb Djqobel el Raar and concentrations located in various wadis in battle area. NACAF maintains sea rcn and patrols. NASAF B-17's bomb dock area at Palermo. B-25's and B-26's hit Oudna landing ground while P-38's bomb vessels near Cape Zebib and at Cape el Ahmar.
4/16/43 Ninth AF B-24's attack tanker in Catania harbor, scoring several hits on tgt and in surrounding area. Ftrs fly sea patrol. British Eighth Army abandons attempts to force retreat from Enfidaville by quick jabs and prepares to launch full-scale assault during 19/20 Apr.
4/16/43 Tenth AF P-40's, bombing railroad bridge near Mogaung, score a direct hit on the tgt and blow up both approaches, leaving the bridge temporarily unserviceable. Later in the day the bridge near Pinbaw is demolished by direct hits. 8 B-24's hit Rangoon M/Y. 9 B-25's bomb Thazi rail junction, while 9 more, weathered out of Maymyo, hit rail tgts in Mandalay.
4/16/43 Fourteenth AF P-40's strafe group of buildings E of Tengchung.
4/16/43 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Kaimana, Wewak, Madang, and Lae. B-17's pound shipping at Wewak, leaving 3 vessels sunk or in sinking condition. B-25's bomb Vila Salazar.
4/16/43 Thirteenth AF B-17's bomb Kahili A/F.
4/16/43 Eleventh AF Kiska is bombed and strafed 13 times. A total of 13 B-24's, 12 B-25's, 32 P-40's, 29 P-38's, and 2 F- 5A's cover tgts which include installations in the Holtz Bay area and gun positions on North Head.
4/17/43 Eighth AF 106 HBs attack FockeWulf factory at Bremen in the Eighth's largest mission to date. A mass of ftrs attacks during bomb run, shooting down 15 bmrs while flak claims another. CG, VIII FC, expresses need for 20 ftr gps to neutralize growing German ftr opposition to CBO.
4/17/43 NAAF During 16/17 Apr, NASAF Wellingtons bomb N quay in Bizerte harbor. Shortly after noon B-17's bomb shipping and docks at Ferryville and Palermo. B-25's hit town area and M/Y at Mateur. Ftrs provide escort. NATAF Bisleys bomb La Sebala A/F and A-20's hit Ksar Tyr and concentrations NE of Grich el Oued. Ftrs fly escort and rcn missions. NACAF airplanes fly sea patrol and rcn and attack shipping in Strait of Sicily.
4/17/43 Ninth AF B-24's (including RAF 178 Sq, under IX BC control) bomb Catania. P-40's fly sweeps, sea patrol, and FB missions.
4/17/43 Tenth AF 7 MBs bomb Myitnge bridge, scoring 4 damaging hits. 10 others hit Myitnge railway works. 16 P-40's damage bridge at Kamaing, attack town of Nanyaseik, and score hits on N approach to bridge at Namti. 6 B-24's damage S approach to Pazundaung railroad bridge.
4/17/43 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Amboina. A single B-24 scores hits on NW shore of Hollandia Bay.
4/17/43 Thirteenth AF B-17's during 16/ 17 Apr again fly strike against Kahili A/F.
4/17/43 Eleventh AF 7 B-24's bomb and score 8 direct hits on runway and gun emplacements at Attu. 1 B-24 and 2 F-5A's abort due to weather. 4 B-25's, 31 P-38's, and 14 P-40's hit Kiska 9 times, bombing installations and strafing gun emplacements and 3 parked airplanes.
4/18/43 NAAF During 17/18 Apr, Wellingtons bomb Tunis docks and M/Y. During day, over 75 B-17's attack Boccadifalco A/F and Palermo M/Y while B-25's hit Alghero-Fertilia A/F and shipping at Porto Torres.
P-38's escort the B-17's and B-25's. NATAF Bisleys hit La Marsa landing ground while ftrs fly rcn and scramble missions. NACAF ftrs fly rcn and patrols, attacking vessels, troop columns, and trucks in Tunisian coastal area, and Beaufighters attack Decimomannu A/F.
4/18/43 Ninth AF 57th Ftr Gp is credited with 77 German transport planes over Cap Bon area. B-24's attack Catania. P40' s fly sweeps, armed rcn, escort, and FB missions. B-25's hit landing grounds.
4/18/43 Fourteenth AF P-40's strafe enemy-held supply village SE of Tengchung.
4/18/43 Fifth AF B-25's bomb A/F at Penfoei. Single B-24's hit Finschhafen and Saidor area.
4/18/43 Thirteenth AF Maj John W Mitchell leads flight of 16 P-38's (2 others abort) on a low-level, circuitous, over-water trip from Guadalcanal to a spot up the Bougainville coast from Kahili to intercept flight of Adm Yamamoto, head of Imperial Japanese Navy, who, according to US intelligence, is on an inspection trip in the S Pacific and is due in Ballale at 0945. Adm Yamamoto's well-known punctuality is calculated to allow the interception to take place at 0935 at a point 35 mi from Kahili. 2 hrs and 15 mins after takeoff at 0725, as the P-38's streak toward Bougainville at almost sea level, the flight of 2 bmrs and 6 Zeros appears just ahead. The 4-aircraft attack section under Capt Thomas G Lanphier Jr bores in. The Zeros spot the attacking P-38's at about 1 mi and try in vain to cut off the attack as the bmrs attempt to escape. In the air battle, Capt Lanphier and 1st Lt Rex T Barber shoot down the bmr carrying Yamamoto.
4/18/43 Eleventh AF 22 P-38's (some flown by RCAF pilots), and 37 P-40's hit Kiska 9 times. Submarine base and gun emplacements on North Head are bombed and gun emplacements near submarine base are silenced.
4/19/43 NAAF During 18/19 Apr, NATAF Bisleys bomb La Marsa landing ground and roads nearby, and attack activity on beach at Reyville. During day, NASAF B-17's bomb shipping at Tunis. B-25's and A-20's raid La Sebala A/F. FBs attack tanks in battle area. NACAF maintains sea rcn and patrols as far as Sardinia and sea approaches to Naples. NAAF aircraft claim over 100 aircraft destroyed during the day.
4/19/43 Ninth AF B-25's hit landing grounds and defensive positions, and P-40's escort bmrs and fly ftr sweeps as British Eighth Army opens assault on Enfidaville positions.
4/19/43 Tenth AF P-40's hit bridges in Burma, seriously damaging Namti railroad bridge between Mogaung and Myitkyina. 9 B-24's bomb Rangoon's main railroad station.
4/19/43 Fifth AF Col Roger M Ramey succeeds Gen Howard K Ramey as CO V BC. Single MBs or HBs bomb A/Fs at Hollandia, Lae, Cape Gloucester, and Gasmata.
4/19/43 Eleventh AF 9 missions involving 14 B-24's, 12 B-25's, 32 P-40's, and 23 P-38's are flown to Kiska. First mission is weathered out of primary tgt, Attu, and directed to Kiska. Bombing and strafing concentrates on 4 grounded ships and submarine base area where fires are started. One ship, believed to serve as power station, is set afire.
4/20/43 NAAF NASAF B-17's and B-25's bomb landing grounds of Mabtouha, La Marsa, La Sebala, Sidi Ahmed, Creteville, and near Protville. NATAF ftrs fly escort, carry out rcn, and attack various Tunisian A/Fs.
NACAF continues sea patrols and rcn as far-reaching as the approaches to Naples.
4/20/43 Ninth AF P-40's fly sweeps, rcn, and FB missions as British ground forces take Enfidaville and push N. Forces on left are checked by stubborn enemy resistance at Djebel Garci.
4/20/43 Tenth AF 8 B-25's bomb engine sheds at Thazai.
4/20/43 Fifth AF B-17's bomb Wewak, Nubia, and Boram A/Fs and shipping off Wewak. B-24's bomb Kaimana and T/Os on Kendari I.
4/20/43 Seventh AF 22 B-24's, from Funafuti, carry out photo-bombing mission over Nauru. Several direct hits on runways and dispersal areas are claimed.
4/20/43 Eleventh AF 10 bombing and strafing missions by 15 B-24's, 16 B-25's, 10 P-38's, and 32 P-40's hit shipping in harbor at Kiska and gun positions in North Head. Other tgts include buildings in Main Camp area and runway.
4/21/43 NAAF Weather prevents completion of any missions by NASAF. NATAF ftrs and LBs hit landing grounds and military traffic on roads, fly sweeps and armed rcn, and attack ground forces and aircraft in Medjez el Bab-Goubellat area where an enemy counterattack by armd and inf columns during 20/21 Apr ends in costly failure.
4/21/43 Ninth AF RAF Liberators, under IX BC control, bomb Naples. P-40's bomb and strafe barges along coast.
British Eighth Army meets such fierce opposition at Takrouna that Gen Montgomery decides to confine offensive to coastal region.
4/21/43 Tenth AF 8 B-25's bomb railroad yards at Maymyo, and 9 more bomb area around Myitnge bridge. 16 B-24's are dispatched to bomb Bangsue Arsenal and other tgts in Bangkok, but only 4 reach tgt area and loose bombs over the city.
4/21/43 Fifth AF B-25's bomb Kaimana and Laga. Single B-17's attack coastal villages in NE New Guinea and hit Ubili and Gasmata.
4/21/43 Eleventh AF Cmdr NORPACFOR places all Army and Navy Air Forces (TG 16.1) under Gen Butler. The Army Air Striking Unit (Eleventh AF) is designated Task Unit 16.1.1 and the Naval Air Search Unit (Patrol Wing Four) is designated Task Unit 16.1.2. 2 P-38's take off for Kiska but abort mission.
4/22/43 NAAF NASAF B-25's bomb 2 landing grounds near Protville while B-26's hit harbor at Carloforte. NATAF ftrs and LBs fly sweeps, rcn, and patrols and attack positions at Djebel el Ahmera, (Longstop Ridge) Sidi Nsir, Djebel el Ajred (Bald Hill), and other points as British First Army's 5 Corps launches start of final phase of assault on Tunisand Bizerte, attacking on front N and S of Medjez el Bab.
4/22/43 Ninth AF P-40's fly ftr sweeps over battle area along Gulf of Hammamet.
4/22/43 Fifth AF A-20's and B-25's pound Lababia-Duali area on Nassau Bay. Single B-17's bomb Dobo and Nubia area, and strafe Ubili.
4/22/43 Seventh AF A/F on Funafuti is bombed twice during 21/22 Apr by Japanese. 2 B-24's are destroyed and 5 others damaged.
4/23/43 International CCS issues directive making British Gen Morgan CoS to Supreme Allied Commander (Designate).
This title, COSSAC, describes both the office and the man who heads it. COSSAC is the seed of Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force. It is charged with continuance of planning for eventual invasion of Western Europe.
4/23/43 NAAF NASAF B-25's and B-26's bomb Arbatax harbor, vehicles, and railroad at Mateur, and Mateur- Bedja road. B-17's attack vessels N of Sicily. NATAF ftrs, LBs, and MBs carry out large number of missions against positions in NE Tunisia and particularly along battleline area from near Pont-du-Fahs N to the Mediterranean as US II Corps begins drive on Bizerte in Jefna-Sidi Meftah area.
4/23/43 Ninth AF B-25's attack a landing ground, troops, and arty N of Enfidaville. P-40's fly escort, sweeps, and FB missions in battle area.
4/23/43 Tenth AF 9 B-25's bomb Mandalay warehouse area. 5 P-40's damage approaches to bridge at Shaduzup.
4/23/43 Fourteenth AF P-40's strafe 15 truck convoy SW of Lungling.
4/23/43 Fifth AF Single B-24's bomb A/F and town area at Finschhafen and score direct hit on cargo vessel SE of Kavieng.
4/23/43 Seventh AF 12 B-24's from Funafuti attack Tarawa Atoll, bombing gas storage and barracks areas.
4/24/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons bomb N quay at Bizerte harbor during 23/24 Apr. Bad weather the following morning cancels NASAF operations. NATAF ftrs, although hampered by bad weather, attack guns, troops, and trucks in battle area from Pont-du Fahs N to the sea. Fierce ground fighting continues in Jefna area.
4/24/43 Ninth AF RAF Liberators, under IX BC, bomb Naples. P-40's escort bmrs, fly sweeps, and carry out FB operations against troops in battle area N of Enfidaville.
4/24/43 Fourteenth AF 9 B-25's, escorted by 11 P-40's, bomb Namtu mines and railroad yards. 7 of the P-40's strafe mine and smelter area. 13 P-40's intercept 25 ftrs near Lingling and hoot down 5.
4/24/43 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Kendari A/F. B-25's pound Dili A/F. A-20's bomb and strafe positions in Mubo area.
Single B-24's attack Lae, Gumbi, Biliau, and Singor, and bomb runway at Cape Gloucester.
4/24/43 Eleventh AF 2 P-38's bomb Kiska and strafe personnel near Mutton Cove. Weather cancels other missions.
4/25/43 NAAF Weather prevents NASAF bombing missions. NATAF ftrs attack positions and vehicles in battlearea.
LBs and MBs bomb S landing ground at Soliman, positions NW of Enfidaville, and several other points in battle area as Allied ground forces continue adv on Bizerte and Tunis.
4/25/43 Ninth AF B-25's attack landing grounds, concentrations, and vehicles N and NW of Enfidaville. P-40's escort bmrs and fly ftr sweeps over battle area.
4/25/43 Tenth AF 11 B-25's attack Ywataung railroad yards and vicinity.
4/25/43 Fifth AF B-17's bomb Wewak A/F and towns of Madang and Saidor. A-20's bomb and strafe positions at Green's Hill. Single B-24's hit A/Fs at Madang and Finschhafen.
4/25/43 Thirteenth AF 3 B-24's fly harassing strike during 25/26 Apr against Kahili A/F. 12 others bomb same tgt later during the night.
4/25/43 Eleventh AF 15 B-24's, 12 B-25's, 32 P-40's, 23 P-38's, and 1 F-5A fly 12 missions to Kiska and Attu. Tgts include Holtz Bay, North Head, South Head, beach areas, runway, shipping, and submarine base.
4/26/43 NAAF During 25/26 Apr, NASAF Wellingtons bomb Decimomannu, Elmas, and Villacidro A/Fs. On following afternoon, B-17's strike A/F at Grosseto. B-25's bomb railroads at Mateur and town of Tebourba, while B-26's and P-38's hit shipping near Marettimo and Porto Ponte Romano. NATAF ftrs, LBs, and MBs hit area NW of Enfidaville, bomb Soliman S landing ground, hit vessels off Cap Bon, and attack Ksar Tyr, roads in Pont-du-Fahs-Zaghouan-Cheylus area, Massicault area, and numerous positions along battleline in NE Tunisia.
4/26/43 Ninth AF B-24's bomb A/F, hangars, and dispersal area at Bari. B-25'S hit landing ground at Soliman S. RAF Liberators, under IX BC control, hit Bari and Barletta, P-40's, escorting bmrs, claim 4 Me 109's destroyed.
4/26/43 Tenth AF 7 B-24's bomb warehouses WSW of C railroad station at Rangoon. 7 others blast Thilawa oil refinery, causing heavy damage. 10 B-25's pound Heho A/F and 16 attack Kanaung A/F.
4/26/43 Fourteenth AF A Japanese force of 12 bmrs and 15 ftrs hit Yunnani A/F with surprise raid. 5 P-40's and 1 C-47 are destroyed. 15 other P-40's are damaged. 5 US personnel and several Chinese laborers are killed.
4/26/43 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Lae and Finschhafen. A single B-17 carries out harassing attacks on Arawe, Ubili, and Gasmata.
4/26/43 Eleventh AF 11 B-24's, 15 B-25's, 36 P-40's, 21 P-38's and 1 F-5A fly 15 missions to Kiska. 24 of the P-40 sorties are flown by RCAF pilots. 5 B-25's abort mission due to weather. Bombs are dropped on North Head runway and nearby area, radar, gun installations, Main Camp and on Little Kiska.
4/26/43 ZI Comm Wg is activated to assume responsibilities from HQ AAF for supervision of AACS (established in 1938).
4/27/43 Twelfth AF Gen Quesada is named CG XII FC but had actually assumed office in mid-Mar.
4/27/43 NAAF NASAF B-25's hit shipping W of Zembra I off Cap Bon. B-17's, with P-38 escort, bomb Villacidro A/F.
NATAF planes (ftrs, LBs, and MBs) hit numerous tac tgts in NE Tunisia, including Sidi Ahmed A/F and troops, tanks, trucks, and gun positions at Massicault, on Pont-du-Fahs road, Ksar Tyr, Bir Meherga, and other points along battleline.
4/27/43 Ninth AF P-40's bomb and strafe concentrations N and NW of Enfidaville.
4/27/43 Tenth AF 19 B-25's bomb engine sheds at Thazi. P-40's hit positions S of Sarenghkyet.
4/27/43 Fifth AF A-20's bomb and strafe forces in Green's Hill-Mubo area. B-25's bomb village near Beru. HBs, operating individually, attack vessels NNW of Dobo, Nabire, Cape Gloucester, Cape Goltz, Gasmata, New Britain, and small vessels and T/Os in Marienberg, Wewak, and Finschhafen areas.
4/27/43 Thirteenth AF B-24's pound Vila and A/F on Ballale I. B-17's hit Kahili A/F.
4/27/43 Eleventh AF 1 B-25 unsuccessfully investigates reported submarine 4 mi W of Bay Is. 4 P-38's bomb Main Camp, then scout Buldir.
4/28/43 NAAF NASAF B-25's and P-38's attack 2 vessels off NE Tunisia in Straits of Sicily. Other B-25's hit Tunis shipping while B-26's bomb landing grounds at Mabouban and Mabtouha. NATAF aircraft bomb concentrations near Saint-Cyprien and Ksar Tyr, shipping off Tunis, and numerous positions and vehicles along Tunisian battleline and surrounding areas as US 9th Div continues; W astride the Sedjenane R and 1st and 34th Divs continue to face fierce opposition S of Jefna in Sidi Meftah area.
4/28/43 Ninth AF B-24's attack harbor at Naples and ferry slip at Messina. Gunners claim 5 ftrs destroyed. P-40's escort bmrs and attack troops in battle area N of Enfidaville.
4/28/43 Tenth AF 9 P-40's intercept 21 MBs and 21 ftrs about 100 mi SW of Kunming. The P-40's claim 11 airplanes shot down. 9 B-25's pound docks at Monywa. 10 others attack river traffic in Katha vicinity.
4/28/43 Fourteenth AF About 20 Japanese MBs and a like number of ftrs attack A/Fs at Kunming. High winds prevent bombing accuracy and little damage is done to the A/F. Several Chinese villagers near the field are killed.
Gen Glenn, recently arrived to become Gen Chennault's CoS, is wounded. Defending P-40's shoot down 10 aircraft.
4/28/43 Fifth AF B-25's attack 2 vessels NNW of Dobo. Single B-17's hit buildings N of Finschhafen A/F, Wilwilan village, and T/Os along coast of NE New Guinea from Nankina R to Mur.
4/28/43 Thirteenth AF 3 B-24's continue snooper missions over Bougainville, bombing A/F at Kahili.
4/29/43 NAAF During 28/29 Apr, NASAF Wellingtons bomb El Aouina A/F. On following morning, P-38's hit shipping S of Marettimo 1. In afternoon B-26's bomb landing ground near Protville and P-40's hit vessels along NE Tunisian coast. NATAF ftrs, LBs, and MBs attack shipping in Gulf of Tunis, positions at Mateur and Derourhi, concentrations SW of Saint-Cyprien and NE of Ksar Tyr, and landing craft near Tunis.
4/29/43 Ninth AF B-25's attack ground installations; in battle area. P-40's escort bmrs and fly bombing and strafing operations against vessels as far N as Zembra I.
4/29/43 Tenth AF 9 B-25's attack shipping at Rangoon. 18 others bomb Myitnge engine sheds and the oft-attacked Myitnge bridge. 6 P-40's bomb and strafe Tahona.
4/29/43 Fifth AF B-25's bomb Koepang. B-24's hit Halong while individual HBs attack Finschhafen, Madang Gumbi, and in Singor area.
4/29/43 Thirteenth AF Single B-24's bomb Numa and Vila. 2 B-17's hit Kahili. P-38's, along with Navy and Marine airplanes, pound Gatere and Pelipelpi Bay. 6 B-24's hit Kieta while P-39's join Navy aircraft in pounding bivouac area at Vila A/F.
4/30/43 NAAF NASAF B-26's and P-38's hit shipping off Tunis while B-25's strike shipping near Cap Bon and TunisMedjez el Bab highway. NATAF ftrs, LBs, and MBs, hit positions near Mateur, Bir Meherga, and Ksar Tyr, concentrations near Furna, shipping in Gulf of Tunis and near Cap Bon, and attack isolated vehicles and troops along battleline as US II Corps makes substantial gains in Jefna area.
4/30/43 Ninth AF B-24's attack Messina ferry; bombs hit tgt area and nearby M/Y and city area. P-40's fly FB missions against shipping with excellent results, claiming 1 destroyer and 3 other vessels sunk, and 2 destroyers and 2 boats damaged. Ftrs claim 5 Me 109's shot down. 3 P-40's are lost.
4/30/43 Tenth AF 16 B-25's pound Gokteik Viaduct, damaging the N end. 4 others bomb Maymyo railroad yards. 5 B- 24's bomb Sule Pagoda wharves at Rangoon. 4 P-40's and a B-25 hit Mohnyin, while 6 P-40's attack camp S of Weshi.
4/30/43 Fifth AF Single B-24's bomb Lae and A/Fs at Cape Gloucester and Gasmata.
4/30/43 Thirteenth AF 5 B-17's bomb bivouac area and revetments at Kahili A/F.
4/30/43 Eleventh AF 4 B-25's, 17 P-38's, and 7 P-40's fly 4 missions to Kiska. Only the P-38's get through and blast Gertrude Cove, Main Camp, the submarine base and a ship.
5/1/43 Eighth AF 56 HBs in 2 waves strike Saint-Nazaire U-boat base and shipyard.
5/1/43 NAAF NASAF B-26's and P-38's fly uneventful shipping sweeps. NATAF ftrs and LBs hit shipping in Gulf of Tunis and jetties at Sidi Daoud and Kelibia, and attack position in NE Tunisian battle area as Allied ground forces regroup for final Tunisian offensive.
5/1/43 Ninth AF B-24's bomb harbor at Reggio di Calabria. P-40's bomb and strafe shipping and shore installations on NE Tunisian coastline.
5/1/43 Fourteenth AF Forward echelon of Fourteenth AF, under Col Clinton D Vincent and Lt Col David L ('Tex') Hill, moves into E China along the Hengyang-Kweilin line. This brings US aircraft within range of all major Japanese-held bases from N China to Indochina and Thailand, and makes shipping in China Sea more vulnerable to US air strikes.
5/1/43 Fifth AF B-24's bomb landing strip at Nabire and hit vessel in Manokwari harbor.
5/1/43 Eleventh AF 16 attack missions on Kiska and Attu are flown by 16 B-24's, 15 B-25's, 35 P-38's, 38 P-40's, and 4 F- 5A's. Kiska tgts include Main Camp, hangar, submarine base (where fire is started), runway, radar, ship, North Head, AA guns and Gertrude Cove. Attu tgts include E Attu, Holtz Bay and Chichagof Harbor installations.
5/1/43 ZI I BC (inactivated on 15 Oct 42) is activated and assigned to Second AF as a trg organization for bomb units.
5/2/43 NAAF Bad weather restricts NASAF to rcn missions. NATAF ftrs hit tank and troop concentrations near Massicault and Tebourba and fly battle area rcn as US II Corps occupies Kef en Nsour while enemy withdraws toward Bizerte.
5/2/43 Ninth AF P-40's attack shipping off Tunisian coast.
5/2/43 Fourteenth AF 17 P-40's intercept 30-40 ftrs near Lingling and in a running battle to just N of Changsha claim at least 7 Zeroes downed. 1 P-40 is shot down.
5/2/43 Fifth AF B-25's bomb Penfoei. Others unsuccessfully attack vessel off Toeal. A single B-17 bombs dock area at Finschhafen.
5/2/43 Thirteenth AF B-17's on harassing strikes hit Rekata Bay area and Munda A/F. P-38's and P-39's join Navy aircraft in pounding runway area at Munda.
5/2/43 Eleventh AF 6 B-25's, 8 P-40's, and 8 P-38's fly bombing, photo and attack missions to Kiska. Tgts include North Head, South Head and buildings and AA gun batteries on Gertrude Cove.
5/3/43 Iceland Gen Andrews, CG ETOUSA, is killed in aircraft crash while landing.
5/3/43 NAAF NASAF B-25's bomb landing ground near Protville and B-17's hit shipping at Bizerte. NATAF ftrs fly numerous rcn missions over battle area as Mateur falls to US 1st Armd Div. Other ftrs escort NASAF bmrs. FBs bomb Massicault area.
5/3/43 Ninth AF P-40's fly FB missions against bridge, buildings, and docks in NE Tunisia.
5/3/43 Fifth AF B-25's strafe A/F at Gasmata. A B-17 strafes launches N of Lolobau I, claiming 1 boat sunk.
5/3/43 Thirteenth AF P-40's and P-38's join Navy dive bmrs and ftrs in attacks on buildings and AA positions in Rekata Bay area.
5/3/43 Eleventh AF 7 B-24's, 11 B-25's, 20 P-38's, 27 P-40's and 2 F-5A's participate in a weather rcn mission to Attu and in 9 attack missions to Kiska. Kiska tgts include Main Camp, North Head, radar, and runway.
5/4/43 Eighth AF 65 HBs strike former Ford and General Motors plants at Antwerp. With this mission, P-47's begin providing ftr escort up to 175 mi. More than 30 B-17's and B-24's fly successful diversionary feint toward French coast, arousing more than 100 German ftrs (about half of total number in the region) and keeping many of them airborne long enough to prevent their attacking main effort.
5/4/43 NAAF Weather restricts NASAF operations to rcn and uneventful shipping sweep, NATAF ftrs attack gun positions and vehicles near Zaghouan and Massicault and at other points in surrounding areas. LBs and MBs hit Zaghouan in spt of French adv.
5/4/43 Ninth AF B-24's attack shipping at Reggio di Calabria and Taranto. B-25's hit Zaghouan, including landing ground and road running to Bou Ficha. P-40's fly sea patrol and escort, as well as FB missions in Zaghouan area.
5/4/43 Fourteenth AF 18 B-24's bomb dock installations, coal yards, and oil storage area at Samah on Hainan I. 9 B-25's pound docks at Haiphong. 19 P-40's escort HBs and MBs to Hanoi and then proceed with MBs to Haiphong and strafe the tgt area following the bombing strike.
5/4/43 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Babo and town area, harbor, and shipping at Wewak. Single B-24's hit barges off N coast of New Britain.
5/4/43 Thirteenth AF B-17's fly snooper strikes during 3/4 May against Vila A/F and Rekata Bay area. P-40's join Navy aircraft in strike on Vangavanga.
5/4/43 Eleventh AF 36th Bomb Sq begins to operate from Amchitka. 5 B-24's, 6 B-25's, 8 P-38's, 2 P-40's and 2 F-5A's take off on 2 Kiska and 1 Attu missions. Missions to Kiska abort due to weather. At Attu tgts include Chichagof Harbor, AA positions at Holtz Bay, and a float-plane.
5/5/43 NAAF NASAF B-17's bomb vessel off Capo San Vito, hit Tunis harbor, and attack ships and docks at La Goulette. B-25's and B-26's bomb shipping off Marettimo I and E of Cape Zebib, and hit landing ground at Galaat el Andeless and near Protville. NATAF ftrs and bmrs fly 6 missions against strongholds on NE and E slopes of Djebel Bou Aoukaz as British 5 Corps' 1st Div attacks and gains the position. Ftrs hit shipping in Gulf of Tunis and attack landing grounds and concentrations near Protville. Wellingtons bomb roads at Bir Meherga.
5/5/43 Ninth AF P-40's strafe and bomb bridge, vessels, docks, warehouses, and other buildings at Nabeul harbor.
5/5/43 Fifth AF B-25's pound Toeal. A lone B-24 bombs A/Fs at Cape Gloucester and Gasmata.
5/5/43 Thirteenth AF P-38's and Navy F-4U's administer thorough strafing to Nyanga.
5/5/43 Eleventh AF Weather rcn airplane over Attu observes float-plane burning on water. 14 B-24's, 17 B-25's, 16 P-38's, 32 P-40's, and 5 F-5A's fly 4 attack missions to Attu and 6 (partly with RCAF pilots) to Kiska. Bombs are dropped on Attu installations and ftrs strafe and set afire 1 seaplane and silence AA guns. Tgts include Main Camp, radar site, North and South Head, runway, and Gertrude Cove installations.
5/6/43 NAAF 18 Army Gp opens final assault on Tunis and Bizerte before dawn. Assault is supported by massed arty fire and the most intensive air bombardment yet employed in N Africa. NATAF airplanes bomb El Aouina, La Sebala, and Ariana A/Fs during 5/6 May. On 6th, ftrs, LBs, and MBs fly over 1,400 sorties, attacking Protville and La Sebala A/Fs, trucks on Massicault-Tunis road, Bordj Frendj, Djebel Achour, traffic SW of Tunis, troops N of Massicault, Djedeida-Saint-Cyprien road, road S of Djedeida, and numerous other points of strength in extreme NE Tunisia. NASAF B-17's bomb Marsala and Trapani.
B-25's and B-26's bomb convoy SW of Marettimo I, 2 beached vessels at Cape Zebib, port of Favignana, vessels W of Marettimo, and ships, lighthouse, and parked aircraft near Capes Fortass, Zebib, Cap Serrat and at Protville. Ftrs escort bombing missions.
5/6/43 Ninth AF B-24's bomb Reggio di Calabria harbor, hitting several vessels and shore installations. B-25's attack Furna and Massicault and surrounding areas. P-40's hit shipping in Gulf of Tunis and vehicles and buildings along coast.
5/6/43 Fifth AF A-20's hit forces in Green's Hill area. Single B-24's hit Madang and Finschhafen. B-25's pound Dili while B-24's hit Manokwari and Toeal.
5/6/43 Thirteenth AF P-40's and Navy dive bmrs an(l ftrs hit Munda A/F. During the evening B-24's carry out harassing strikes on Kahili A/F and on Fauro and Ballale Is.
5/6/43 Eleventh AF MBs, HBs, and P-38's drop over 52 tons of bombs on Attu tgts incl Holtz Bay, Sarana Bay, and Chichagof Harbor area and nearby gun positions. Kiska is also hit. Tgts include radar, gun positions and Gertrude Cove and Main Camp areas. Returning P-38's also bomb and strafe hut on Rat I. P-40's blast Kiska and Little Kiska.
5/7/43 ETO Gen Devers is appointed cmdr of ETO.
5/7/43 NAAF During 6/7 May, NASAF Wellingtons bomb docks and shipping at Trapani as diversion for mine-laying mission off Malta. Next morning, P-40's attack motor vessels, quay and dock area at Tunis harbor.
NATAF ftrs, LBs, and MBs hit El Aouina A/F and traffic on roads around Tunis, especially Tunis-Bizerte road, as Allied forces of Gen Alexander's 18 Army Gp overrun both Tunis and Bizerte, splitting the enemy's forces.
5/7/43 Ninth AF B-25's hit town of Kelibia. P-40's bomb and strafe shipping in Gulf of Tunis, severely damaging 3 boats.
5/7/43 Fifth AF B-17's and B-24's bomb A/F, supply dumps, and other tgts at Madang while A-20's hit forces in Green's Hill area. B-25's pound Penfoei.
5/7/43 Eleventh AF An attempted mission to Kiska by 6 P-40's aborts due to weather.
5/8/43 NAAF NASAF B-26's and P-40's attack small vessels off NE Tunisia. Weather prevents success of other shipping sweeps, but P-38's bomb Pantelleria A/F and B-25's hit road junction and railroad at Korba and highway N of Beni Khalled. P-40's bomb docks near Thonara. NATAF ftrs and LBs bomb landing ground on Pantelleria, shipping between Tunisia and Sicily, convoys and road network near Soliman and Hammamet, tanks near Protville, troops, emplacements, trucks, landing grounds, and vessels on and near Cap Bon and in area S of Tunis. On ground, Corps Franc D'Afrique makes official entry into Bizerte as British 7th Armd Div pushes N from Tunis toward US II Corps zone. The British 6th Armd and Indian 4th Inf Divs, pushing SE toward Hammamet, are stopped at Hammam Lif as enemy strives to keep line of retreat to Cap Bon peninsula open. 5 Corp 1st Div and 4th Indian Div push E with French 19th Corps which meets firm resistance near Zaghouan.
5/8/43 Ninth AF B-25's hit landing ground on Pantelleria. P-40's strafe and bomb shipping in Cap Bon area and shipping and shore installations on Gulf of Tunis. Ftrs claim 5 Me 109's destroyed.
5/8/43 Fourteenth AF 16 B-24's and 11 B-25's bomb Tien Ho A/F, shop and factory area, and White Cloud A/F at Canton.
The 24 escorting P-40's strafe tgt areas following the bombing strikes. Considerable damage is done, including the destruction of about 20 enemy aircraft.
5/8/43 Fifth AF B-25's claim destruction of 2 cargo vessels at Madang. B-17's bomb A/F at Rabaul, and single B-17's attack barges and small boats off N coast of New Britain.
5/8/43 Thirteenth AF P-40's join Navy aircraft in attack on destroyers in Blackett Strait. Other P-40's and P-38's hit AA positions at Vila.
5/9/43 NAAF During 8/9 May, NASAF Wellingtons bomb Villacidro, Elmas, and Decimomannu A/Fs, and NATAF Bisleys, bomb troops and vehicle concentrations in Hammamet-Nabeul-Menzel Bou Zelfa-Soliman- Tazorhrane areas. During day, B-17's, with P-38 escort, bomb Palermo; B-26's follow immediately with attack on same tgt. Ftrs fly sweeps over battle area, provide cover for destroyers, strafe barges, bomb buildings in battle area, strafe trucks between Hammamet and Soliman and bomb landing ground near Menzel Temime. LBs and MBs also bomb shipping, hit concentrations in battle area and in town of Soliman, and bomb A/F on Pantelleria. US II Corps receives unconditional surrender of enemy troops in its zone.
5/9/43 Ninth AF B-24's attack harbor facilities at Messina, scoring hits on ferry terminal, round house, 2 ferries, and a ship. B-25's hit landing ground on Pantelleria. Over 300 P-40's fly escort and rcn missions, and strafing and bombing raids on landing ground, vessels, vehicles, bridges, and gun positions in areas of Zembra Is, Cap Bon, and Pantelleria.
5/9/43 Fifth AF B-24's and B-17's bomb Manokwari, Nabire, Kaimana, and Madang A/F, and Wewak-But area. B-25's hit A/F at Gasmata.
5/10/43 NAAF During 9/10 May, NASAF Wellingtons bomb Palermo and surrounding area. B-17's follow up, shortly past noon, with raids on A/Fs at Milo and Bo Rizzo. NATAF ftrs, LBs, and MBs attack Pantelleria harbor, Korba bridge, Menzel Temime landing ground, Kelibia areas, and town of Menzel Bou Zelfa.
Numerous motor transport and troop concentrations on Cap Bon peninsula are bombed and strafed as British 6th Armd Div drives to Hammamet, cutting off the peninsula.
5/10/43 Ninth AF B-25's bomb Pantelleria landing ground. P-40's bomb Pantelleria and Cap Bon peninsula. Ftrs claim 4 airplanes destroyed.
5/10/43 Tenth AF 6 P-40's bomb and strafe Kwitu, leaving several areas burning fiercely.
5/10/43 Fourteenth AF 8 P-40's fly offensive sweep against comm in Nam Dinh and Hanoi areas. 4 locomotives and 3 riverboats are destroyed, a train carrying troops and supplies is heavily damaged, and several trucks of troops are destroyed.
5/10/43 Fifth AF A-20's bomb and strafe Labu area while B-25's pound Cape Gloucester A/F. B-17's and B-24's, operating individually, attack coastline tgts in NE New Guinea, New Britain, and on Jamdena I.
5/10/43 Thirteenth AF P-38's join Navy and Marine aircraft in strike against gun emplacements, runway, and revetments at Munda A/F.
5/11/43 NAAF NASAF B-17's, B-26's, and B-25's bomb Marsala, hitting warehouse, docks, railroad yards, seaplane base, and city area. P-40's bomb and strafe harbor at San Michele. NATAF ftrs and LBs attack vehicles, gun positions and troop concentrations in Zaghouan-Sainte-Marie du Zit area and on Cap Bon as British 4th Div completes uneventful sweep around Cap Bon peninsula, revealing no important forces there. Resistance in Zaghouan sector weakens.
5/11/43 Ninth AF B-24's strike Catania harbor, severely damaging harbor area and several ships. B-25's strike battle area in NE Tunisia. P-40's fly escort and armed rcn, and carry out bombing and strafing missions in Cap Bon area against motor transport, concentrations, roads, docks, and AA batteries.
5/11/43 Tenth AF 6 B-24's pound Syriam, causing large fires in the town area.
5/11/43 Fifth AF B-17's and B-24's hit A/F and general area at Rabaul. B-25's bomb Penfoei and Dili.
5/11/43 Thirteenth AF B-17's fly harassing strikes during 10/11 May against Kahili A/F and against Shortland I.
5/11/43 Eleventh AF The following missions spt US forces landing on Attu: 1 air-ground liaison sortie by 1 B-24; and B-24 supply sortie dropping supplies to ground forces, and 5 attack missions, flown by 11 B-24's and 12 B- 25's. First attack mission cannot find tgt and instrument-bombs tgts which include runway, radar, submarine base, and camp area. Because of poor visibility next 2 missions hit Kiska, where runway and Main Camp are attacked. 2 B-24's then bomb Chichagof Harbor area through fog while another drops leaflets on Attu.
5/12/43 International Churchill, Roosevelt, and CCS in Washington discuss strategy in light of events in USSR, Tunisia and Aleutians. Other topics are setting date for invasion of W Europe, war plans for ETO and MTO, knocking Italy out of the war, and C Pacific offensive against Japan.
5/12/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons bomb docks at Marsala during 11/12 May. Some bombs fall on Mazara del Vallo and Trapani. During day, NATAF ftrs, LBs, and MBs fly sweeps and tac rcn over battle area and hit positions S of Bou Ficha which form last link between enemy forces and the sea. By night enemy resistance in S is almost ended. Enemy troops, including Gen von Arnim, CinC, Army Gp Africa, are surrendering en masse.
5/12/43 Twelfth AF Gen Cannon takes cmd of XII A Spt Cmd.
5/12/43 Ninth AF B-25's bomb tgts in battle area in NE Tunisia.
5/12/43 Fifth AF B-25's bomb A/F and surrounding area at Finschhafen. B-24's hit Saumlakki, and single HBs hit Salamaua and Gasmata.
5/12/43 Thirteenth AF During 11/12 May, B-17's fly snooper strikes against Kahili A/F. During early morning hrs P-40's and Navy aircraft hit AA positions, runway, and revetments there.
5/12/43 Eleventh AF A P-39 rcn sortie over Kiska and Rat Is encounters poor weather and turns back. At Attu, air-ground liaison B-24 watches US forces land on beach 'Red' while another B-24 drops supplies. 7 attack missions flown by 10 B-24's, 12 B-25's, and 24 P-38's bomb and strafe assigned Attu tgts. 4 barges are set afire in W arm of Holtz Bay.
5/13/43 Eighth AF 119 HBs attack Meaulte industrial areas and Saint-Omer/Longuenesse A/F. The major effort is directed at Avions Potez aircraft factory at Meaulte. Four additional B-17 gps (94th, 95th, 96th, and 351st) become available for combat operations on 13-14 May.
5/13/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons bomb area of railroad station, M/Y and docks in Naples during 12/13 May. The following day, B-17's, B-25's and B-26's from 7 bomb gps, escorted by ftrs from 4 ftrs gps, bomb Cagliari, hitting shipping, dock area, M/Y, oil dump, chemical plant, and city area. Tunisian campaign ends with surrender of Marshal Messe, cmdr of Axis forces in Africa.
5/13/43 Ninth AF B-25's bomb Augusta. RAF Liberators, under IX BC, attack Messina ferry terminal.
5/13/43 Fifth AF B-17's bomb A/Fs at Rabaul, Wewak, and Boram. B-25's blast A /F, town area, and T/Os at Gasmata while A-20's hit Cape Gloucester A/F and area. Single B-24's and B-17's attack various shoreline and offshore tgts, including landing strips, buildings, gun positions, barges, and vessels, on NE New Guinea coast, New Britain, and in Admiralty Is.
5/13/43 Thirteenth AF During 12/13 May 2 B-24's on snooper missions bomb Kahili and Ballale A/Fs. They are followed shortly by 6 B-17's which pound the same tgts. During day, 34 P-38's, P-39's, and P-40's, along with 62 Navy and Marine ftrs and 6 RNZAF P-40's, intercept 20-plus airplanes over Russell Is-Tulagi area.
Allied pilots claim 16 aircraft shot down (1 by AAF ftrs). During early evening, 5 B-17's again hit Kahili and Ballale A/Fs.
5/13/43 Eleventh AF Bad weather keeps air-ground liaison B-24 from observing or hearing friendly ground forces on Attu and returns to base. Air-ground spt mission of 6 B-24's is diverted from Attu to Kiska. 2 of the bmrs don't get the message, proceed to Attu, and bomb Chichagof Harbor and Holtz Bay. The other 4 bomb Main Camp area. 8 P-40's dispatched to Kiska in 2 waves cannot see tgt and instead bomb Little Kiska installations.
5/14/43 Eighth AF Maximum force is put in air as part of combined offensive against Wehrmacht. 198 HBs of VIII BC plus a small group of MBs launch simultaneous attacks on 4 tgts. The principal attack is against submarine yards and naval installations at Kiel with other objectives being Courtrai A/F, former Ford and General Motors plants at Antwerp, and the Velsen power station at Ijmuiden. This is first time more than 200 US bmrs are dispatched. The attack at Ijmuiden is made at low level by 11 B-26's of 322d Bomb Gp, first US MB gp to become operational in UK. No MBs are lost during attack though 1 MB crashes while landing on return to base.
5/14/43 NAAF During 13/14 May, Wellingtons hit Cagliari. During day, P-38's bomb tunnel, barracks, A/F, industry, power station, and town areas at Sassari, Alghero, Porto Torres, and Abbasanta. B-25's and P-38 escorts bomb dock and town area of Olbia, claiming destruction of 3 vessels. B-26's hit Porto Ponte Romano while B-17's bomb Civitavecchia.
5/14/43 Ninth AF P-40's fly sea patrol and escort for bmrs.
5/14/43 Fifth AF B-25's administer thorough pounding to A/F and surrounding area at Gasmata while B-24's and B-17's pound Rabaul A/F. Other B-25's bomb Penfoei A/F and Dili area. Single HBs hit various tgts in NE New Guinea, New Britain and NEI.
5/14/43 Thirteenth AF Single B-24's fly early evening snooper strikes against A/Fs at Kahili, Ballale, and Munda. During 14/15 May, B-17's on snooper mission bomb Kahili.
5/14/43 Eleventh AF Poor weather curtails bombings. Air-ground liaison B-24 flies rcn and photo rcn over Attu throughout the day. 1 B-24 carrying supplies for ground forces hits mountain side 10 mi W of dropping zone. 6 B- 24's and 5 B-24's fly ground spt bombing missions over Attu. 2 P-40's bomb Kiska through overcast.
5/15/43 Eighth AF 135 bmrs attack various tgts as well as A/F and naval installations on Helgoland; U-boat yard, M/Y and A/F at Emden; naval base and submarine construction works at Wilhelmshaven; and air facilities at Caen and Poix.
5/15/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons bomb Palermo during 14/15 May. NACAF maintains sea patrol and rcn over large area of Mediterranean from W coast of Italy over Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, and as far N as Marseille.
5/15/43 Ninth AF P-40's fly sea patrol.
5/15/43 Fourteenth AF 25-35 Japanese bmrs and 30-40 ftrs attack Kunming. Nearly all of the bombs fall in the W and SW of the A/F, causing little damage. 28 P-40's intercept, claiming 13 ftrs and 2 bmrs shot down.
5/15/43 Fifth AF B-25's pound A/Fs at Lae and Gasmata. A-20's strafe airplanes and buildings at Lae. B-24's bomb A/F at Rabaul and hit Nabire. Single HBs hit Gasmata, Cape Gloucester, and barges SW of Ubili.
5/15/43 Seventh AF 7 B-24's from Midway bomb Wake. 4 others abort and 7 others fail to find tgt. 22 ftrs intercept the formation.
The B-24's claim 4 shot down. 1 HB is lost.
5/15/43 Eleventh AF Weather again curtails operations. Air-ground liaison B-24 observes and directs air operations at Attu throughout the day as visibility permits and directs supply drop for ground forces by another B-24 in 2 air-ground spt missions. 6 B-24's bomb Holtz Bay and Chichagof Harbor; 6 P-38's strafe AA installations in Holtz Bay area.
5/16/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons bomb Trapani during 15/16 May. NATAF and NACAF planes fly sea patrol, rcn, and convoy escort.
5/16/43 Ninth AF P-40's escort shipping off Mediterranean coast.
5/16/43 RAF Lancasters breach Mohne and Edersee dams, flooding large portions of Ruhr Valley.
5/16/43 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Kendari A/F area. Single HBs attack coastal or offshore tgts in NE New Guinea, New Britain, and New Ireland.
5/16/43 Eleventh AF Air-ground liaison B-24 bombs Chichagof Harbor with unobserved results. Another B-24 drops supplies to ground forces on Attu. 8 B-24's, 12 B-25's, and 12 P-38's fly ground spt missions to Attu.
Because of weather, only the P-38's get through and strafe AA guns, installations and barges, scoring several hits. The bmrs are directed to bomb Kiska. 2 P-40's fly rcn mission over Kiska.
5/17/43 Eighth AF 118 HBs hit port area and U-boat base at Lorient while a smaller force strikes the docks and sub pens at Bordeaux. 10 of 11 B-26's of 322d Bomb Gp are lost when sent on low-level mission to bomb power stations at Haarlem and Ijmuiden. This mission prompts Eighth AF to abandon low-level MB attacks.
5/17/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons bomb Lido di Roma seaplane base and drop leaflets over Rome.
5/17/43 Fifth AF B-25's bomb Gasmata, Dili, Penfoei, and Barique. Single HBs hit Lae, Finschhafen, Gasmata, and Cape Gloucester.
5/17/43 Thirteenth AF P-39's and Navy airplanes bomb and strafe bivouac and AA positions in Rekata Bay area.
5/17/43 Eleventh AF Two attempted ground spt missions to Attu by 1 B-24, 5 B-25's, and 6 P-38's are recalled due to weather.
5/18/43 Eighth AF CBO plan for round-the-clock bombing of the enemy from UK by RAF and Eighth AF is approved by CCS. Eighth AF now has authorization to proceed with daylight strategic bombing within the type of combined offensive it has long wished to initiate. CBO plan lists the destruction of German ftrs as the immediate priority objective. Primary objectives in order are German submarine yards and bases, the German aircraft industry, ball bearings, and oil (the last being contingent upon attacks from the Mediterranean against Ploesti). Secondary objectives in order of priority are synthetic rubber and tires, and military motor transport vehicles.
5/18/43 NAAF Gen Williams takes cmd of NAAF TCC (Prov). During 17/18 May, Wellingtons bomb Alghero-Sassari area. During day NAAF begins strong air offensive against Pantelleria in conjunction with naval blockade.
Over 80 B-25's and B-26's, escorted by P-38's, blast the island, hitting Porto di Pantelleria and Marghana A/F. B-17's, with ftr escort, bomb Trapani.
5/18/43 Fifth AF HBs, operating individually, hit Gasmata and Rabaul A/Fs twice and Cape Gloucester, Arawe, and Lorengau once.
5/18/43 Eleventh AF 6 B-24's, weathered out of Attu, bomb Gertrude Cove area leaving large fires. 4 P-40's reconnoiter Kiska and strafe barges. 1 B-25 flies photo rcn over Kiska.
5/19/43 Eighth AF 102 HBs hit U-boat yards at Kiel. A smaller force bombs naval yards at Flensburg.
5/19/43 NAAF B-25's hit Milis and Villacidro A/Fs while B-26's bomb Monserrato and Elmas A/Fs, outskirts of Quarto Sant'Elena, and Cagliari harbor. B-17's bomb Milo A/F at Trapani.
5/19/43 Ninth AF After 2 days of sand storms, Ninth AF aircraft are again airborne. P-40's fly escort for ships in area E of Kelibia off Cap Bon peninsula.
5/19/43 Fifth AF B-24's hit Penfoei and A/F at Gasmata. B-25's attack Salamaua area and T/Os off NE coast of Huon Peninsula. Single HBs hit Gasmata twice during the day.
5/19/43 Eleventh AF 6 B-24's and 11 B-25's fly 3 air-ground spt missions to Attu, bombing Sarana Valley. 4 P-40's fly 2 rcn missions to Kiska.
5/20/43 Ninth AF P-40's escort ships and fly sea patrol off Cap Bon and Kelibia area.
5/20/43 NAAF During 19/20 May, NASAF Wellingtons bomb Villacidro and Decimomannu A/Fs. During day, P-38's bomb docks on Gulf of Aranci, railroad bridge NE of Perfugas, Milis A/F, Macomer rail junction, and T/Os at Sassari, Bonnanaro, Chilivani, and Bonorva. Other P-38's and P-40's strafe and bomb Pantelleria. B-25's bomb Villacidro, Alghero, and Decimomannu A/Fs while B-17's strike Grosseto A/F.
5/20/43 Fifth AF A/F and surrounding area at Gasmata are hit by A-20's during 20/21 May and by B-17's during day. B- 17's and B-24's bomb Vunakanau A/F. B-25's sink several barges offshore between Madang and Cape Cretin.
5/20/43 Thirteenth AF During 20/21 May, HBs on snooper missions bomb Kahili area and Ballale I.
5/20/43 Eleventh AF All air-ground spt missions to Attu are canceled due to weather. 20 P-40's bomb Main Camp and submarine area at Kiska, and strafe barges in the harbor. The remaining Japanese on Attu are concentrated in the Chichagof Harbor area.
5/21/43 Eighth AF 123 bmrs of VIII BC hit German U-boat yards. Main effort is directed at Wilhelmshaven while smaller number of planes strike at Emden. At Wilhelmshaven German ftrs are reported firing rockets.
5/21/43 NAAF During 20/21 May, Wellingtons hit Villacidro and Decimomannu A/Fs and T/Os on Sardinia. During day, B-25's and B-26's bomb the same A/Fs. P-40's attack gun positions and T/Os on Pantelleria, and B-17's hit hangars, repair shops, dispersal points, and a gun battery at Castelvetrano.
5/21/43 Ninth AF During 20/21 May, RAF Liberators, under IX BC, bomb Messina and Reggio di Calabria. During day, B-24's hit Villa San Giovanni and Reggio di Calabria; gunners claim 4 ftrs destroyed. P-40's fly sea patrol off NE Tunisian coast.
5/21/43 Fifth AF B-17's bomb A/Fs in Rabaul area while B-24's hit A/F at Gasmata. Nabire A/F is hit by B-24's while B- 25's blast AA positions, supply dumps, and town area at Saumlakki.
5/21/43 Eleventh AF Of 10 B-24's, 12 B-25's, and 24 P-38's dispatched to Attu only 3 missions, totaling 6 P-38's and 1 B- 24, are able to bomb and strafe troops and installations. 4 other missions, after vainly waiting for a break in the overcast over Attu, bomb Kiska submarine base through overcast.
5/22/43 NAAF As diversion for convoy passing off Sicily during 21/22 May, NASAF Wellingtons fly intrusion mission over Sicily, dropping bombs on Castelvetrano, Sciacca, Milo, and Bo Rizzo A/Fs. NATAF ftrs fly convoy escort.
5/22/43 Ninth AF P-40's fly sea patrol off NE Tunisia.
5/22/43 Fifth AF B-24's bomb town of Kaimana and strafe power launches at Koer I.
5/22/43 Eleventh AF Bad weather forces cancellation of all missions. 15 enemy bmrs make a torpedo attack on cruiser Charleston and destroyer Phelps patrolling Attu. The ships suffer only negligible damage.
5/23/43 NAAF Col John W Monahan takes cmd of NATC. NASAF B-25's and B-26's bomb docks and A/F of Pantelleria and P-40's attack gun positions on the island. P-38's attack zinc works at Iglesias and Carloforte harbor.
5/23/43 Ninth AF P-40's fly convoy escort off Tunisia.
5/23/43 Fifth AF B-24's and B-17's hit harbor and A/F at Kavieng, A/F at Gasmata, and village of Ubili.
5/23/43 Thirteenth AF 5 B-24's bomb A/Fs at Kahili and Ballale I during 23/24 May. 10 B-17's, attempting follow-up strike, abort because of bad weather. While other aircraft are successfully laying mines in N Solomons in Buin area, 19 B-17's and B-24's, in diversionary raid, bomb Buin-Kahili-Tonolai shoreline area.
5/23/43 Seventh AF A flight of P-40's on patrol from Kauai bomb submarine from 1,500 ft, after which oil slick and debris are seen.
5/23/43 Eleventh AF 6 B-24's and 12 B-25's fly 3 air-ground spt missions to Attu. Due to bad weather they are routed to Kiska. Weather there is also poor and only 1 B-25 bombs Main Camp area. Next, 3 B-24's and 18 P- 38's fly 3 air cover missions to Attu. The last of these missions is notified by a PBY that 16 bmrs are W of Attu. 5 of the P-38's then intercept the bmrs over Attu, which jettison their bombs and close formation.
The P-38's score 5 kills and 7 probables. 2 P-38's are lost.
5/24/43 NAAF During 23/24 May, NASAF Wellingtons bomb harbor and A/F at Pantelleria. During day, NASAF and NATAF ftrs follow with more attacks on the A/F. P-40's, P-38's, B-25's, B-26's, and B-17's, bomb tgts on Sardinia, including Carloforte harbor, factories, hangars, and oil dump at Alghero and seaplane base at Porto Conte, railroad bridge at Arbatax, area near Macomer, town of Iglesias, harbor at La Maddalena I, harbor, warehouses, and dump at Terranova, and A/F at Olbia.
5/24/43 Twelfth AF Col Lawrence P Hickey assumes cmd of XII A Spt Cmd.
5/24/43 Ninth AF B-24's hit Villa San Giovanni ferry slip and railroad yards, and ferry terminal and nearby tanker at Reggio di Calabria.
5/24/43 Fifth AF B-24's pound Lakunai A/F at Rabaul while B-25's hit runway at Gasmata. Other B-25's bomb Penfoei.
5/24/43 Eleventh AF 2 of 3 air-ground spt missions to Attu, together 6 B-24's, 11 B-25's, and 1 F-5A, bomb Attu. Third mission is canceled, except for 2 B-25's which do not hear canceling order. 3 B-24's and 14 P-38's fly 3 more air cover missions over Attu but make no contacts.
5/25/43 NAAF During 24/25 May, Wellingtons bomb docks and M/Y at Olbia. NASAF ftrs, MBs, and HBs bomb Portoscuso, Terranova, tunnel near Macomer, Porto Empedocle, Boccadifalco A/F, Licata harbor, Milo A/F, Messina, and Pantelleria. NATAF P-40's and B-25's hit A/F, shipping, and military concentrations at Pantelleria.
5/25/43 Ninth AF B-24's attack Messina ferry docks and railroad yards.
5/25/43 Fifth AF Single HBs bomb coastal A/Fs and villages, hitting Madang, Kakakog, Simbang, and Cape Gloucester, and attacking barges off Gavuvu.
5/25/43 Eleventh AF 12 B-25's and 15 B-24's fly air-ground spt and 4 B-24's and 20 P-38's fly air cover all over Attu. 18 P- 40's fly 1 rcn and 2 attack missions to Kiska and Little Kiska.
5/26/43 NAAF NASAF MBs and HBs hit A/Fs at Ponte Olivo, Biscari, and Comiso. P-40's attack gun emplacements, trucks, and troops on SE coast of Pantelleria. P-38's hit Porto Ponte Romano shipping, Tirso power dam, Golfo Aranci harbor, and Villacidro A/F. NATAF P-40's bomb Pantelleria.
5/26/43 Fifth AF 3 B-24's and B-25's bomb Madang town area and A/F.
5/26/43 Seventh AF 3 B-24's from Canton I fly rcn-bombing mission over Abemama. Bombs are dropped on barracks area.
5/26/43 Eleventh AF 8 B-24's and 11 B-25's, flying air-ground spt, bomb enemy positions. 2 B-24's and 12 P-38's fly air cover sorties and also patrol and strafe Attu. Kiska is covered by 3 F-5A's photo sorties and 3 attack missions, flown by 9 B-25's and 16 P-40's. Tgts include gun emplacements on North Head and E end of runway.
5/27/43 Eighth AF 11 bmrs raid docks and submarine pens at Saint-Nazaire.
5/27/43 NAAF P-40's bomb harbor defenses on Pantelleria. B-25's and B-26's hit Villacidro and Decimomannu A/Fs.
NATAF P-40's attack tgts on S coast of Pantelleria.
5/27/43 Fifth AF B-24's and B-25's pound Lae town area and A/F. Other B-25's hit enemy forces at Labu and Jacobsens Plantation. Finschhafen, Saidor, Kakakog, and Langgoer are hit by single-plane strikes.
5/27/43 Eleventh AF Attu is covered by 1 B-25 flying ground spt, bombing and strafing troops and dropping photos taken on previous day to friendly forces, and by 1 B-24 and 6 P-38's flying air cover. 6 P-40's fly attack and rcn missions to Kiska, concentrating on Little Kiska and on the Main Camp area.
5/28/43 NAAF During 27/28 May, NASAF Wellingtons bomb Villacidro, Decimomannu, and Elmas A/Fs. During day, P-40's hit Pantelleria, B-17's bomb oil refinery, M/Y, harbor, and shipbuilding yards at Leghorn, while MBs attack A/Fs of Sciacca, Castelvetrano, Milo, and Bo Rizzo. NATAF A-20's bomb Pantelleria.
5/28/43 Ninth AF During 27/28 May, RAF Liberators, under IX BC, bomb Augusta. During day, B-24's of 2 gps hit Foggia A/F and surrounding area.
5/28/43 Fourteenth AF 16 P-40's, operating in 2 forces, dive-bomb railroad yards at Yoyang. Tracks, warehouses, and the roundhouse are damaged.
5/28/43 Fifth AF B-17's and B-24's attack Wewak, Dagua, and Boram A/Fs and bomb Wewak-Dagua coast road.
5/28/43 Thirteenth AF P-38's and P-40's, along with naval aircraft, attempt strike on Kolombangara area and Munda but are hampered by bad weather. Some of the dive bmrs (TBF's) manage to bomb runway and revetment area at Munda.
5/28/43 Seventh AF 3 B-24's from Canton I fly rcn-bombing mission over Abemama 1, dropping 6 500-lb bombs.
5/29/43 Eighth AF 147 HBs hit submarine pens and locks at Saint-Nazaire. Smaller strikes are made at Rennes naval depot and U-boat yards at La Pallice. 7 YB-40's, heavily armored B-17's with increased firepower for escorting bmrs, fly their first mission (to Saint-Nazaire). YB-40's show inability to keep up with B-17's and need for modification of waist and tail gun feeds and ammunition supplies.
5/29/43 NAAF During 28/29 May, NASAF Wellingtons bomb town areas, docks, and A/F at Castelevtrano, Bo Rizzo, Trapani, and Marsala. During day, NASAF P-38's bomb Porto Ponte Romano. P-40's, P-38's, and B- 26's of NASAF and NATAF attack gun positions, radar station, and town area on Pantelleria.
5/29/43 Fourteenth AF 9 B-24's bomb Ichang. 4 P-40's hit T/Os in Tengchung and Lungling areas.
5/29/43 Fifth AF B-17's bomb Madang and Alexishafen. HBs and MBs, operating individually or in flights of 2 bmrs, attack town, A/Fs, shipping, docks, and other tgts at various places, including Dili, Penfoei, Damar I, Soemba, Soembawa, Babo, Nabire, Saidor, Finschhafen, Manam I, and Cape Gloucester.
5/29/43 Eleventh AF No missions flown. All of Attu is secure after 19 days of fighting. US ground forces land on Shemya.
5/30/43 NAAF During 29/30 May, NASAF Wellingtons bomb Pantelleria. The following morning MBs and ftrs also hit the island. P-38's bomb Chilivani railway station and M/Y, hit port and railroad at Aranci, and strafe T/Os in Sardinia. B-17's bomb Pomigliano aircraft factory and landing ground and Capodichino A/F and M/Y. NATAF ftrs hit Pantelleria.
5/30/43 Ninth AF B-24's hit Foggia, A/F, damaging buildings and hangars, and destroying several aircraft. B-25's attack concentrations on NE slope of Pantelleria.
5/30/43 Fourteenth AF 7 B-24's bomb arty positions S of Ichang. 4 P-40's bomb and strafe Tengchung and T/Os along Burma Road and at Lamaing; 8 others on offensive sweep strafe several T/Os in Ichang area; 11 others hit riverboats at Shasi and trains NE of Yoyang.
5/30/43 Fifth AF B-17's bomb Wewak, Boram, and Madang. B-24's hit Kendari area.
5/30/43 Eleventh AF 8 P-40's fly 4 rcn missions to Kiska. 3 air-ground spt missions to Attu by 7 B-24's and 12 B-25's drop no bombs there and instead bomb Kiska installations. 2 B-24's and 12 P-38's fly air cover missions over Attu and patrol area. 3 F-5A's fly photo rcn and 8 P-40's attack and strafe tents and troops and blast runway at Kiska.
5/31/43 NAAF NASAF B-17's bomb A/F and M/Y at Foggia. MBs and ftrs hit defended positions on Pantelleria. P- 38's bomb Cagliari, factory at Guspini, and power station at Santa Caterina. NATAF P-40's hit Pantelleria.
5/31/43 Ninth AF RAF HBs, including Liberators of 178 Bomb Sq under IX BC control, bomb oil stores, harbor and seaplane base at Augusta.
5/31/43 Fourteenth AF 9 B-24's, escorted by US and Chinese P-40's, bomb Ichang A/F. The HBs and ftrs shoot down 5 ftrs of an intercepting group of about 20. 1 Chinese P-40 is lost. 6 P-40's on armed rcn over Siaokan area blast a train and strafe troop concentration.
5/31/43 Fifth AF B-24's pound Lae A/F and town area.
5/31/43 Thirteenth AF 3 B-24's on armed rcn over S Bougainville bomb Numa area and Tinputs. Small coastal vessel at Tinputs is set afire.
5/31/43 Eleventh AF 5 F-5A's fly separate photo missions. 6 B-24's, 10 B-25's, 37 P-40's and 8 P-38's fly attack missions to Kiska. Their tgts include Gertrude Cove, AA installation trenches, North Head runway, and a vessel.
6/1/43 NAAF An attack by Wellingtons against Pantelleria during 30 May/1 Jun is followed by NASAF P-38's and B- 17's while NATAF P-40's attack gun positions on the island during the day. NASAF P-40's strafe seaplane base on Stagnone I. P-38's bomb railroad near Balestrate. P-38's, B-26's, and B-25's, bomb Porto Torres harbor, Porto Ponte Romano, and Olbia harbor.
6/1/43 Fourteenth AF 20 P-40's divebomb warehouses and railroad yards at Changanyi.
6/1/43 Fifth AF B-25's hit Bogadjim and vicinity. B-24's bomb Lae A/F and nearby area.
6/1/43 Eleventh AF 2 P-40's, 1 B-24 and 1 F-5A fly weather rcn and photo runs and 8 B-25's, 18 P-38's and 20 P-40's, fly 7 attack missions to Kiska. Tgts include parked aircraft and installations, runway, gun positions, radar, and tents on South Head, North Head, Gertrude Cove and Main camp.
6/2/43 NAAF During 1/2 Jun, Wellingtons of NASAF hit Pantelleria and drop pamphlets on Naples. Ftrs and MBs hit the island during following morning and afternoon. P-38's attack Milo A/F while P-40's strafe T/Os in Sardinia.
6/2/43 Fourteenth AF 5 B-25's, escorted by 10 P-40's, bomb Pailochi A/F. 18 P-40's strafe troop barges and launches at Itu and 6 long columns of troops E of Changyang.
6/2/43 Fifth AF B-17's and B-24's bomb A/Fs at Wewak, Boram, Dagua, and Rut. Isolated shipping strikes result in little damage to vessels and barges.
6/2/43 Thirteenth AF 2 B-24's on armed rcn attack gun positions, cargo boats, and shipping at Numa Numa and Tinputs.
6/3/43 NAAF Ftrs, LBs, and MBs of NASAF and NATAF attack defended positions on Pantelleria following a raid on town area and docks by Wellingtons during 2/3 Jun.
6/3/43 Ninth AF Col Charles D McAllister assumes cmd of IX FC, succeeding Gen Strickland. At the same time McAllister assumes cmd of DATF.
6/3/43 Fifth AF B-24's bomb supply dump area at Dobo. Other tgts attacked in NEI suffer little damage.
6/3/43 Thirteenth AF During 3/4 Jun, B-17's bomb Kahili A/F and Moliko R area. B-24's attack small vessels at Tinputs and Teop, sinking 1 and firing the other.
6/3/43 Eleventh AF Weathered out from Kiska are 3 weather missions flown by 2 B-24's and 2 P-40's, as well as 2 attack missions by 2 HBs and 6 ftrs.
6/4/43 NAAF During 3/4 Jun, NASAF Wellingtons bomb Syracuse, Catanzaro, and Pantelleria, which is also hit on the following day by ftrs, LBs, MBs, and HBs, of NASAF and NATAF.
6/4/43 Ninth AF B-24's attack Grottaglie A/F, leaving hangars and other building in flames. Gunners claim 3 ftrs shot down.
6/4/43 Fifth AF B-17's and B-24's bomb A/Fs at Boram, Wewak, and Dagua. B-25's hit Koepang and Lautem.
6/4/43 Eleventh AF 404th Bomb Sq begins to operate from Amchitka. 6 B-24's following a Navy Ventura make a radarbombing run over North Head. 14 P-40's and P-38's bomb North Head, Main Camp and Little Kiska. 4 P-38's and 1 B-24 flying air cover over Attu make no enemy contact.
6/5/43 NAAF During 4/5 Jun, Wellingtons hit docks and town area of Pantelleria. The following day, B-25's and P- 38's extend the attack on the island, hitting mainly gun positions. B-17's hit harbor and shipping at La Spezia. B-26's bomb Porto Ponte Romano while P-38's hit A/Fs of Monserrato and Capoterra.
6/5/43 Ninth AF During early morning, RAF HRs, under IX BC control, attack Catania harbor.
6/5/43 Fourteenth AF P-40's strafe troop columns near Peiyang and hit barge and boat NW of Yoyang.
6/5/43 Eleventh AF 7 B-24's, 6 B-25's, and 6 P-40's fly weather rcn and radar-bombing missions over Kiska, being handicapped by poor weather and mechanical trouble.
6/6/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons hit town and docks of Pantelleria during 5/6 Jun. The following afternoon, Spitfires, P-40's, P-38's, B-26's, A-20's, DB-7's, A-36's, and B-25's of NASAF and NATAF continue pounding the island. Allied air bombardment increases and is concentrated on coastal batteries and other gun emplacements as second phase of air offensive against Pantelleria starts.
6/6/43 Ninth AF B-24's strike harbor areas of Villa San Giovanni and Reggio di Calabria, and ferry slips and railroad yards at Messina. Gunners claim 8 ftrs destroyed. B-25's of 2 Gps hit Pantelleria.
6/6/43 Fourteenth AF 5 P-40's strafe trucks, barracks, and personnel at Tangyang; at least 15 trucks are burned and considerable damage is done to the barracks area. 11 P-40's hit approaches to bridge at Puchi. 2 locomotives in the area are destroyed. 10 other P-40's attack Shasi A/F and hit river shipping in the general area. 7 B-25's bomb A/F at Pailochi.
6/6/43 Fifth AF B-24's hit town of Koepang and A/F at Penfoei.
6/6/43 Thirteenth AF P-38's, P-40's, and Navy and Marine ftrs and dive bmrs attack shipping off Buin, scoring damaging hits on a destroyer and 2 smaller vessels. 15 Japanese airplanes are claimed shot down. Other P-38's and P-40's strafe Luti Bay area of Choiseul I.
6/7/43 Eighth AF Eighth AF continues to be hit by requirements for N Africa as 389th Bomb Gp, originally scheduled for UK, is diverted by WD to Mediterranean.
6/7/43 NAAF Following night raid by Wellingtons on Pantelleria, HBs, MBs, LBs, and ftrs of NASAF and NATAF pound the island throughout the afternoon.
6/7/43 Ninth AF B-25's bomb gun emplacements at Pantelleria A/Fs.
6/7/43 Fifth AF B-17's and B-24's attack Wewak, Lae, Madang, and Kesup, hitting town areas and A/Fs, and strafe sampans on Sepik R.
6/7/43 Thirteenth AF P-38's and P-40's along with RNZAF P-40's and Navy and Marine ftrs, intercept large force of ftrescorted dive bmrs on mission against Allied shipping off Guadalcanal. Ftrs from the newly opened Russell Is bases initiate the interception. A running fight develops and extends down to Guadalcanal.
More than 20 Japanese aircraft are downed. 9 Allied ftrs are lost but all the pilots are recovered.
6/8/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons pound town and docks on Pantelleria during 7/8 Jun. Air offensive against the island increase during the following day as ftrs, LBs, MBs, and HBs of NASAF and NATAF continue to bomb throughout the day. Naval forces bombard harbor and shore batteries. Surrender requests, dropped by airplane, bring no response. P-38's attack barracks N of Segariu and A/F at Villacidro.
6/8/43 Ninth AF RAF HBs bomb Mesina ferry terminal. B-25's of 2 gps hit Pantelleria, directing major effort at gun emplacements.
6/8/43 Fourteenth AF 7 B-24's and 6 B-25's, with P-40 escorts, are dispatched to bomb shipping and dock installations at Haiphong. Bad weather prevents striking the primary tgts; alternates, including Hongay shipping, rail yard, and power facilities, Gia Lam A/F and warehouses E of Hanoi are bombed. P-40's bomb and strafe Japanese HQ at Tatung, barracks E of Lamaing on the Salween R, and a camp N of Lungling.
6/8/43 Fifth AF B-25's bomb Koepang and hit area SE of Dili. B-24's unsuccessfully attack shipping at Waingapoe and off Wewak.
6/8/43 Thirteenth AF B-24's on armed rcn bomb Kahili A/F and Ballale I.
6/8/43 Eleventh AF A C-47 is the first AAF airplane to land at Attu, landing ftr crews at Alexai Pt. All other flying canceled due to weather.
6/9/43 NAAF Ftrs, MBs, and HBs of NASAF continue pounding of Pantelleria in predawn hours and during the afternoon.
6/9/43 Ninth AF B-24's bomb landing ground at Gerbini and A/F at Catania. B-25's hit Pantelleria. Ftrs escort bmrs and fly patrols and ftr sweeps.
6/9/43 Fourteenth AF 6 P-40's damage railroad bridge at Puchi and strafe nearby railroad yards.
6/9/43 Fifth AF 2 B-24's bomb town area of Manokwari and A/F at Nabire. A lone B-17 bombs Unea I.
6/9/43 Thirteenth AF B-24's on rcn attack small vessel WNW of Cape Henpan. B-17's, P-40's, and P-38's pound A/F at Munda and Vila.
6/10/43 Eighth AF CCS issues directive through C/AS, RAF, marking official beginning of CBO of USAAF and RAF against sources of German war power. RAF is to bomb strategic city areas at night, and American force to hit precise tgts by daylight. CCS sanctions Combined Operational Planning Committee as the agency for coordinating the efforts of the CBO forces.
6/10/43 NAAF Following attacks during 9/10 Jun by FBs, NASAF and NATAF aircraft (ftrs, LBs, MBs, and HBs) maintain all-day attack on Pantelleria. Over 1,000 sorties are flown.
6/10/43 Ninth AF B-25's, escorted by ftrs, bomb Pantelleria. The escorting ftrs dive-bomb tgts on the island. Later, RAF HBs attack Reggio di Calabria A/F.
6/10/43 Fourteenth AF 9 P-40's on armed rcn strafe 10 barges and a gunboat at Chienli; 1 barge is set aflame. 10 P-40's intercept about 25 airplanes over Hengyang; 1 enemy bmr is shot down.
6/10/43 Fifth AF More than 20 B-17's and B-24's pound A/Fs in the Rabaul area. A single B-24 bombs town of Sorong and shipping at Kokas.
6/10/43 Thirteenth AF P-38's and Navy ftrs claim 4 aircraft downed off N tip of Malaita I. B-17's and B-24's pound A/F at Kahili twice during the day.
6/10/43 Eleventh AF 7 B-24's, 8 B-25's, 12 P-40's, and 2 F-5A's fly weather rcn, attack, and photo missions to Kiska and Little Kiska. Tgts include gun batteries, runway, North Head and Main Camp.
6/11/43 Eighth AF 168 aircraft of VIII BC hit Wilhelmshaven U-boat yards. Smaller raid is made on port area of Cuxhaven. The raid on Wilhelmshaven demonstrates difficulty of operating beyond range of ftr escort as enemy ftr attacks prevent accurate bombing of the tgt.
6/11/43 NAAF Attack during 10/11 Jun on Pantelleria by Wellingtons is followed by morning and afternoon attacks by ftrs and bmrs of NAAF, in conjunction with naval bombardment of the island.
6/11/43 Ninth AF B-25's attack islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa. Ftrs escort the MBs to Pantelleria and fly over during bomb runs. After British 1st Div is landed unopposed, Pantelleria surrenders unconditionally.
6/11/43 Fourteenth AF 8 P-40's hit ramp on the Salween R, trucks at Mangshih, and warehouses at Tungling.
6/11/43 Fifth AF B-24's again bomb A/F in Rabaul and hit T/Os at Gasmata and along shore of Keravia Bay. B-25's pound areas along Huon Gulf coast, hitting Kela Pt, Salamaua, and bridge at Nuk Nuk. Koepang is thoroughly blasted by B-24's while Penfoei and Dili A/Fs are hit by light B-25 attacks. P-40's strafe sub off Cape Nelson.
6/11/43 Eleventh AF 7 B-24's, 8 B-25's, 10 P-40's, 4 P-38's, and 2 F-5A's fly weather, photo, rcn, and attack missions to Kiska. Main tgts are Gertrude Cove and Main Camp, South Head, North Head, runway, and offshore barges. Ftr bombing and strafing, and subsequent bmr runs over emplacements, are effectively coordinated.
6/12/43 NAAF NASAF and NATAF ftrs, LBs, MBs, and HBs hit Lampedusa I. B-17's and B-26's bomb Castelvetrano, Boccadifalco, and Milo A/Fs.
6/12/43 Ninth AF B-25's, escorted by P-40's, attack Lampedusa I. The island surrenders unconditionally, and Coldstream Gds go ashore and take charge.
6/12/43 Fifth AF B-24's hit runways at Nabire and Kaimana. A lone B-25 bombs and strafes barges S of Langemak Bay.
6/12/43 Thirteenth AF AAF ftrs, along with RNZAF, USN, and USMC ftrs, claim over 30 aircraft shot down during interception of enemy strike on Guadalcanal. 6 Allied ftrs are lost.
6/13/43 Eighth AF 102 HBs hit Bremen U-boat yards while a smaller force strikes at Kiel sub yards. Heaviest ftr attack to date against Eighth accounts for 26 HBs, mostly of force attacking Kiel.
6/13/43 NAAF NATAF and NACAF carry out land and sea patrols and rcn flights. NW African Photo Ren Wg covers areas of Sardinia, Sicily, and Italian mainland.
6/13/43 Twelfth AF Gen House becomes CG XII A Spt Cmd.
6/13/43 Ninth AF US and RAF HBs attack Catania and Gerbini A/Fs, causing severe damage to aircraft, runways, hangars, and other installations. HBs claim 5 ftrs. 2 B-24's are down at sea.
6/13/43 Tenth AF 9 B-25's attack Meza railway bridge on Mandalay Myitkyina line, causing minor damage.
6/13/43 Fourteenth AF 11 B-25's supported by 14 P-40's, bomb hangars and depot area at Nanchang A/F.
6/13/43 Fifth AF B-17's and B-24's bomb A/Fs in Rabaul area and at Gasmata. B-25's hit Dili and Koepang and bomb and strafe barges off Huon Peninsula, at Jabob I, off Cape Gerhards, and S of Cape Cretin. Single B- 24's bomb Malahang A/F and attack freighter in Humboldt Bay.
6/13/43 Thirteenth AF B-24's and B-17's again bomb Kahili A/F.
6/14/43 NAAF During 13/14 Jun NASAF Wellingtons bomb Messina. Other NASAF and NATAF airplanes continue patrols and rcn. NW African Photo Rcn Wg maintains flights over Sardinia and Sicily.
6/14/43 Fourteenth AF 8 P-40's intercept about 8 bmrs and 20 ftrs 25 mi SW of Nanchang. The P-40's claim 7 ftrs shot down.
6/14/43 Fifth AF A single B-24 bombs Lakunai A/F at Rabaul" 6/14/43 Thirteenth AF 18 B-25's, escorted by F-4U's, hit Vila A/F. 11 B-17's and B-24's bomb Kahili A/F and hit nearby Shortland I.
6/14/43 Seventh AF 1 B-24 from Funafuti bombs runways at Tarawa.
6/15/43 Eighth AF Additional modifications of YB-40 escort bmrs are completed in UK. It is now hoped that these B-17's converted to heavily armored aircraft with great firepower will solve the problem of long-range escort for bmrs.
6/15/43 NAAF During 14/15 Jun, NASAF Wellingtons bomb Milo, Sciacca, Castelvetrano, and Boccadifalco A/Fs. B- 17's, B-25's, B-26's, and P-38's follow during morning hours with raids on same tgts and hit Bo Rizzo A/F and radio stations near Marsala. Widespread photo rcn of mainland Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia continues.
6/15/43 Twelfth AF Col Harold A Barton takes cmd of XII AFSC.
6/15/43 Tenth AF MBs score 2 direct hits on bridge at Myitnge.
6/15/43 Fourteenth AF 10 B-25's, escorted by 12 P-40's, spt Chinese ground forces by bombing positions at Owchihkow.
6/15/43 Fifth AF B-24's bomb A/Fs at Rabaul in predawn strikes and hit Kendari A/F in the evening. A single B-25 attacks power boat in Hanisch Harbor and strafes beach near Finschhafen.
6/15/43 Thirteenth AF B-24's bomb Ballale I A/F.
6/16/43 NAAF NW African Photo Rcn Wg continues coverage of areas of mainland Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia.
6/16/43 Fifth AF B-25's bomb Koepang and Oeikoesi and, along with A-20's, hit barges and shore tgts at several points along coasts of NE New Guinea and New Britain.
6/16/43 Thirteenth AF Gen Jamison becomes CG XIII BC. Search aircraft report nearly 250 Japanese airplanes at Rabaul and other A/Fs jammed with aircraft. In air action in the Solomons, about 120 Japanese aircraft converging on Allied vessels off Tulagi and Guadalcanal are met by more than 100 Allied ftrs (Thirteenth AF, RNZAF, USN, and USMC). The skies over Savo I, Tulagi, Cape Esperance, and Koli Pt are filled with dogfights and flak from ship and ground guns. The battle results in the largest single-day Allied aerial victory of the Solomons campaign. 79 airplanes are claimed shot down by Allied ftrs, and AA claims 17 more. 6 Allied ftrs are lost. The Japanese succeed in damaging 3 ships (2 of which have to be beached) and cause considerable destruction on Guadalcanal.
6/17/43 NAAF During 16/17 Jun, Wellingtons bomb docks and M/Y at Naples.
6/17/43 Ninth AF B-24's attack A/Fs at Biscari and Comiso.
6/17/43 Fourteenth AF P-40's strafe warehouse and train S of Chiuchiang and a train N of Nanchang. Road traffic E of Hanoi is also attacked.
6/17/43 Fifth AF B-25's administer thorough pounding to Madang and Salamaua areas. B-24's bomb Sorong and Boela. A single B-24 bombs Cape Gloucester A/F and during 17/18 Jun a B-25 attacks power launches nearby, sinking 1 and badly damaging 2 more.
6/17/43 Seventh AF During 17/18 Jun, 4 B-24's take off from Funafuti at 2hr intervals to bomb Tarawa. 1 aborts and another fails to find tgt. The 2 HBs bombing the tgt hit runways, silence an AA battery, and blow up an ammo dump. The raid is a diversion in spt of the first night photo-rcn mission by VII BC, during which 3 B-24's photograph Mille Atoll and nearby waters in the Marshalls.
6/18/43 NAAF B-17's strike Messina ferry slip and railroad yards while P-38's bomb Milo A/F. B-26's and B-25's, with P-38 escort, hit docks and shipping at Olbia and shipping at Golfo Aranci. NATAF and NACAF airplanes maintain patrol and rcn flights. NAAF aircraft claim over 40 aircraft destroyed.
6/18/43 Fifth AF B-25's bomb and strafe power launches off Cape Gloucester and Finschhafen, sinking 1 and damaging 2 near the Cape. A single B-17 bombs Unea I while an A-20 on armed rcn during 18/19 Jun bombs and strafes Salamaua and nearby coastal areas.
6/18/43 Thirteenth AF B-24's bomb Kahili A/F while B-25's hit Ballale I and strafe barges in Wilson Strait.
6/19/43 NAAF During 18/19 Jun, NASAF Wellingtons bomb Syracuse. NATAF, NACAF, and NW African Photo Rcn Wg airplanes maintain patrols and rcn over areas of N Africa the Mediterranean, Sicily, Sardinia and mainland Italy.
6/19/43 Ninth AF B-24's attack ferry and railroad yards at Villa San Giovanni, ferries in Straits of Messina, and harbor of Reggio di Calabria.
6/19/43 Fifth AF B-17's and B-24's thoroughly pound Vunakanau A/F. A-20's hit barges in Hanisch Harbor and trail near village of Tamigudu. Single B-24's bomb Finschhafen area and Rapopo airstrip.
6/19/43 Thirteenth AF During 18/19 Jun, B-24's bomb Nauru.
6/19/43 Seventh AF During 18/19 Jun, 2 B-24's fly photo rcn of Jaluit from Funafuti.
6/20/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons bomb Messina during 19/20 Jun. The following morning B-26's bomb Milo, Castelvetrano and Bo Rizzo A/Fs. NATAF and NACAF maintain patrols, rcn, and convoy escort while NW African Photo Rcn Wg continues coverage of areas in Sicily and mainland Italy.
6/20/43 Fifth AF B-24's bomb airstrip at Rapopo, and A/Fs at Keravat and Rabaul, and also hit Rabaul town area. A- 20's pound Lae A/F. 2 B-25's and an A-20 hit Finschhafen and barges and shoreline tgts along coast of New Britain.
6/20/43 Thirteenth AF P-40's join Marine and Navy airplanes in strike against Vila A/F. Hits are scored on runway and dump area. B-24's blast A/F and other tgts at Kahili and also bomb Kieta.
6/20/43 Seventh AF During 19/20 Jun, 3 B-24's from Funafuti fly photo rcn of Jaluit.
6/21/43 NAAF Wellingtons bomb Naples during 20/21 Jun. The following day, B-17's hit Naples railroad yards, Salerno M/Y and trestle, Battipaglia M/Y, and Cancello Arnone air depot. Ftrs fly patrol, rcn, and convoy escort.
6/21/43 Ninth AF B-24's attack ferry terminal and surrounding areas at Villa San Giovanni, and harbor area and railroad yards at Reggio di Calabria. RAF HBs follow up with raids on same tgts.
6/21/43 Fourteenth AF 7 B-25's, with escort of 8 P-40's, bomb village of Shihshow. 8 other B-25's, supported by 9 P-40's, are dispatched to attack Japanese-held village of Hwajung but mistakenly bomb friendly village of Nanhsien, killing over 50 Chinese.
6/21/43 Fifth AF In predawn strike B-25's bomb Koepang. A-20's bomb and strafe A/Fs at Lae and Malahang while B- 25's blast A/F and general area at Salamaua. A single B-24 bombs MacDonald's Junction and strafes T/Os along coast S of Buka.
6/21/43 Seventh AF 1 HB carries out armed photo rcn over Nonouti, Beru, and Nukunau Is.
6/21/43 Eleventh AF A ftr strip is completed at Shemya. All missions are canceled due to weather for tenth straight day.
6/22/43 Eighth AF In first large-scale daylight raid on Ruhr, 182 HBs hit chemical works and synthetic rubber plant at Huls in main attack. This plant, representing a large percentage of the country's producing capacity, is severely damaged. 11 YB-40's accompany the Huls raid; 1 is lost. Other HBs bomb former Ford and General Motors plants at Antwerp.
6/22/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons bomb Salerno during 21/22 Jun. NACAF Beaufighters sink small vessel off E Sardinia.
6/22/43 Ninth AF P-40's patrol over Pantelleria; no encounters with enemy.
6/22/43 Tenth AF HBs join MBs in pounding Ywataung M/Y. Monywa is also thoroughly bombed.
6/22/43 Fifth AF B-24's bomb Taberfane area.
6/22/43 Seventh AF 3 B-24's from Canton I fly photo rcn of Beru, Nukunau, Tabiteuea, Onotoa, Tarawa, and Arorae. 1 of the HBs strafes Arorae.
6/22/43 Eleventh AF A P-40 sights a submarine 5 mi E of Zeto Pt. A B-24 then searches the area but makes no contact.
6/23/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons bomb town of Olbia and lay mines in the harbor during 22/23 Jun. Photo rcn airplanes continue missions, flying over areas of mainland Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and S coast of France.
6/23/43 Ninth AF RAF B-24's, under IX BC, hit Comiso A/F. Ftrs patrol over Pantelleria without incident.
6/23/43 Fifth AF 17 B-24's bomb shipping, dock area, factory and residential areas of Makassar. 2 light cruisers are damaged and many buildings along Juliana Quay and in town area are damaged or demolished. A single B-24 or armed rcn bombs Lae A/F.
6/23/43 Thirteenth AF B-25's and Navy ftrs and dive bmrs hit Buki village.
6/24/43 NAAF During 23/24 Jun, Wellingtons strike Catania M/Y and industrial area. The following day, B-26's and B- 25's bomb Chilivani rail junction, Alghero-Fertilia and Venafiorita A/Fs, and Golfo Aranci shipping and shore installations and other tgts in Sardinia. P-40's sweep S Sardinia, strafing and destroying trucks near La Maddalena, 2 small vessels in Gulf of Cagliari and off Capo Spartivento, and aircraft at Capoterra landing ground.
6/24/43 Ninth AF B-24's strike Sedhes A/F near Salonika.
6/24/43 Tenth AF B-25's attack road bridge at Shweli. Damage to tgt is slight.
6/24/43 Fifth AF B-25's strafe and considerably damage Salamaua A/F and bomb villages in the area, demolishing 2 villages.
6/24/43 Seventh AF 3 HBs from Funafuti fly visual rcn of Nonouti, Tabiteuea, Onotoa, Tamana I, Arorae, and Abemama. 2 other HBs fly sea-search mission from Canton I.
6/24/43 Eleventh AF 16 bmrs fly 2 weather, an armed rcn, and 2 attack missions hitting barges near Vega Pt Main Camp area, and North Head.
6/25/43 Eighth AF 167 HBs make scattered attacks on T/Os in NW Germany when primary tgts at Bremen and Hamburg are obscured by clouds. Of 7 YB-40 escort bmrs dispatched only 4 are able to accompany formations to tgt area.
6/25/43 NAAF NASAF Wellingtons bomb docks and M/Y at Olbia during 24/25 Jun. On following day B-17's drop over 300 tons of bombs on Messina bombing M/Y, W and N part of town warehouse area and part of commercial quay.
6/25/43 Fifth AF B-25's bomb and strafe several occupied villages in Sepu area.
6/25/43 Thirteenth AF During 24/25 Jun B-24's attack Kahili area and hit A/F on Buka I. During the following day B-25's, escorted by P-40's, hit runway at Vila, A/F.
6/25/43 Eleventh AF 2 photo and weather rcn missions by 2 B-24's and 6 attack missions by 25 B-25's, 12 B-24's, and 2 P- 38's hit Kiska. Tgts include gun revetments at Gertrude Cove and AA batteries.
6/26/43 Eighth AF 93d bomb Gp leaves UK for N African duty as demands for planned heavy bombardment in that area (invasion of Sicily and raid on Ploesti) make further inroads on strength of the Eighth. AM Leigh- Mallory is given responsibility for drafting air plans for invasion of Continent. His dep is Gen Hansell.
39 HBs hit Triqueville A/F. Smaller group strikes aircraft industry at Villacoublay. 5 YB-40 escort bmrs take off to accompany HBs but none are able to complete the attack.
6/26/43 NAAF Wellingtons bomb Bari oil refinery during 25/26 Jun. 33d Ftr Gp (P-40) becomes first Gp established on Pantelleria.
6/26/43 Ninth AF During 25,/26 Jun RAF HBs, under IX BC control, bomb Messina.
6/26/43 Fifth AF During predawn and early morning hrs B-24's and B-17's bomb A/F and harbor at Rabaul and town of Lae. During midday B-25's hit Lae A/F and town of Salamaua. In early evening B-25's bomb Penfoei.
6/26/43 Thirteenth AF During 25/26 Jun, B-24's pound Ballale I A/F and bomb Poporang-Buin-Faisi area. P-38's strafe Rekata Bay area.
6/26/43 Eleventh AF 16 bmrs and 28 ftrs fly 7 attack, weather rcn and photo missions to Kiska and Little Kiska, starting fires. Intense machinegun fire damages 4 P-38's.
6/27/43 Eighth AF 44th Bomb Gp leaves for duty in N Africa as Eighth continues to send combat units to the Mediterranean campaign.
6/27/43 NAAF During 26,/27 Jun, Wellingtons bomb Naples M/Y and port area.
6/27/43 Ninth AF Beginning this date, 201st Bomb Wg (Prov)-93d, 44th, and 389th bomb Gps-of Eighth AF is attached to Ninth AF for operations. B-24's hit A/Fs at Kalamaki and Eleusis, damaging buildings, runways, and parked airplanes. HBs claim 7 ftrs shot down.
6/27/43 Fifth AF B-25's bomb and strafe occupied areas at Dumpu, Kaigulin, and Kaiapit while A-20's strafe barges and shore installations at Labu Lagoon. B-24's hit Taka, Saumlakki, Boeroe I, and Malo I.
6/27/43 Thirteenth AF B-24's bomb Kahili A/F and hit Ballale I. A single HB on armed rcn bombs Munda A/F.
6/27/43 Eleventh AF 8 B-24's make a radar run over Kiska but return with their bombs due to weather. Later, 5 B-24's and 7 B-25's bomb Kiska Main Camp area and vicinity N of Salmon Lagoon. 14 B-25's bomb Gertrude Cove, camp areas, and North Head, while 7 others abort due to weather. 2 P-40's fly rcn over Segula I but overcast prevents observations.
6/28/43 Eighth AF 158 HBs bomb locks and submarine pens at Saint-Nazaire. Beaumont-le-Roger is hit by smaller attack.
6/28/43 NAAF During 27/28 Jun NASAF Wellingtons bomb Messina M/Ys and Villa San Giovanni. The following day, B-17's hit Leghorn, B-25's hit A/Fs near Olbia and Alghero, B-26's attack Milis landing ground, and ftrs hit Decimomannu A/F.
6/28/43 Seventh AF Bombing mission against Nauru from Funafuti is hampered by engine trouble and bad weather. 1 B-24 had crashed at Palmyra the previous day while en route from Hawaiian Is to staging base at Funafuti.
Of the 18 arriving at the forward base, 2 are