October 7, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 7 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Four B-25's attack a 2,500-ton freighter 100 miles south of Amoy, scoring 3 direct hits; the vessel is left burning and listing. 9 B-24's and 22 fighters hit a cement plant at Haiphong, causing heavy damage to the kiln building. The 26th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group transfers from Dinjan to Kunming with P-40s.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): The 72nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), based on Espiritu Santo with B-24's, begins operating from Guadalcanal. Damaged P-38H "Jan II" 42-66893 pilot D. W. Livsey (survived) force lands at Barakoma Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-24 on patrol bombs Umboi Island (Rooke) and scored damaging hits on several buildings. HQ 374th Troop Carrier Group transfers from Port Moresby to Garbutt Field.

NEIAF: Missing is B-25C N5-136 pilot Sgt Visser (MIA).

IJN: In the early morning hours, Japanese destroyer-transports complete the withdrawal of Japanese personnel from northern Vella Lavella.

Japanese guardboat No.20 Inari Maru is destroyed by fire off Wake.

Japanese transport Kikukawa Maru is destroyed by fire at Truk.

USN: USS Chevalier (DD-451) damaged in the Naval Battle of Vella Lavella is scuttled by USS LaVallette (DD-448) at Lat 7°30'S, Long 156°14'E.

USS Concord (CL-10) is damaged by an on-board explosion caused by a leaking gasoline tank off Nukahiva Island, Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia.

Submarine S-44 (SS-155) is sunk by Japanese escort destroyer Ishigaki north-northeast of Araito Island, east of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Kuriles.