March 26, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 26 MARCH 1943

(Eleventh Air Force) A reconnaissance aircraft covers Attu, Agattu, Semichi and Alaid where a cabin is strafed. Upon report of Navy contacts with enemy surface force that results in the Battle of Komandorskies, Thirteen B-24's, eleven B-25's and eight P-38's are ordered to hit the enemy, reported 150 miles west of Cape Wrangell on Attu. Because of mechanical failures and weather, airplanes cannot take off until six hours after the surface force is sighted. Thus, Japanese ships have fled when aircraft arrive at the interception point. Some of the returning B-25's bomb a radar site, hangar, and Main Camp area on Kiska.

U.S. Navy: Battle of the Komandorskies (Battle of the Bering Sea) begins when Task Group 16.6 (TG 16.6) under the command of Rear Admiral Charles H. McMorris with heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City (CA- 25), light cruiser USS Richmond (CL-9) and four destroyers USS Coghlan (DD-606), USS Bailey (DD-492), USS Dale (DD-353) and USS Monaghan (DD-354) encounters a superior enemy surface force of two heavy cruisers Maya and Nachi, two light cruisers, and four destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral Hosogaya Boso attempting to run Allied blockade and reinforce Japanese on Kiska. Joining battle off Komandorski Island in the Bering Sea, enemy is forced to retire without completing his mission; his Aleutians garrisons are henceforth obliged to rely on meager supplies brought in by submarine. In this daylight surface action, heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City (CA- 25) is damaged by gunfire from heavy cruisers Maya and Nachi and light cruiser Abukuma, 52°47'N, 172°45'E, but damages Nachi in return; destroyers Bailey (DD-492) and Coghlan (DD-606) are also damaged by gunfire, 53°20'N, 168°36'E.

BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) Six B-24's mine the Rangoon River during the night of 26/27 March. Six others fly a diversion raid on the city of Rangoon, scoring hits on Mingaladon Airfield, between the central railroad station and Pazundaung Creek, and in the Syriam area.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) B-24s bomb Nauru Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Six B-17's from the 63rd Bomb Squadron took off for a bombing mission against enemy shipping in Wewak Harbor. One failed to take off due to engine trouble. Over the target, nothing was sighted and harbor installations at Wewak Town were bombed instead. Also, A-20's pound forces and targets of opportunity in the Mubo, Malahang, and Salamaua area. Lost is A-20A "Minnie Ha Ha / Cleo III" 40-170 (crew survived, MIA, POW). A single B-17 bombs Finschhafen and unsuccessfully attacks a ship east of Talasea. Lost on an administrative/reconassaince flight is B-17F "Pluto" 41-24384 (MIA) with Brigadier General Howard K. Ramey aboard.