THURSDAY, 13 MAY 1943
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) Bad weather keeps the air-ground liaison B-24 from observing or helping friendly
ground forces on Attu and returns to base. An air-ground support mission
of six B-24's divert from Attu to Kiska; two of the bombers don't get the message,
proceed to Attu, and bomb Chichagof Harbor and Holtz Bay. The other 4 bomb the
Main Camp area on Kiska. Eight P-40's dispatched to Kiska in tow waves cannot see the target
and instead bomb Little Kiska installations.
CBI CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) The 76th
Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, with P-40's, transfers from Kunming to Lingling.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) During the night of 12/13 May, 2 B-24's on snooper missions bomb Kahili Airfield and Ballale Airfield. They are followed shortly by 6 B-17's which pound the same
targets. During the day, 34 P-38's, P-39's, and P-40's, along with 62 Navy and
Marine fighters and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-40's, intercept 20+
airplanes over the Russells-Tulagi area. Allied pilots claim 16 aircraft
shot down (1 by USAAF fighters). During the early evening, five B-17's again hit Kahili Airfield and Ballale Airfield.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's bomb airfields
at Rabaul and Boram Airfield. 38th BG B-25's blast the airfield, town area, and targets
of opportunity at Gasmata while A-20's hit Cape Gloucester Airfield and area.
Single B-24's and B-17's attack various shoreline and offshore targets, including
landing strips, buildings, gun positions, barges, and vessels, on the NE New
Guinea coast, New Britain, and the Admiralty Islands.
IJN: Seven G4M1 Bettys from the 705 Kokutai took off from Buka Airfield on a night mission to bomb Guadalcanal. Over the target, intercepted by P-38 Lightning piloted by Lt. William E. Smith from the 12 Fighter Squadron who claimed an aerial victory over a Betty, likely this bomber at 7:46pm and claimed a Betty probable at 7:47pm. During the day, A6M2 Zeros on a fighter sweep are intercepted by F4U Corsairs from Marine Fighting Squadron 124 (VMF-124) over the Russell Islands.
USMC: Fifteen Corsairs took off on a scramble to intercept Japanese planes over the Russell Islands. Lost is F4U Corsair 02178 pilot Major William E. Gise (MIA).
