October 15, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 15 OCTOBER 1943

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): The 89th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, transfers from Karachi to Gushkara with P-40's. A detachment will operate from Sadiya during Oct.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 21 B-24's, 12 P-38's, and 17 USN F4U's pound Kahili Airfield supply  and personnel areas. 6 Zekes are claimed shot down. During the late evening B-25's bomb Buka Airfield.

USN: I Marine Amphibious Corps (I MAC) issues final orders for invasion of the northern Solomon Islands. The attack force, Task Force 31 (TF 31) under Adm Wilkinson with ground forces under the command of General Vandegrift that will seize locations in the Treasury Islands on October 27, 1943 in preparation for the main invasion on November 1, 1943 of Bougainville. In support will be carrier-based and land-based aircraft, surface forces and submarines. Allied aircraft began an intensive pre-invasion bombardment of targets on Bougainville.

USMC: I Marine Amphibious Corps Issued Operation Order No. 1 directing the 3d Marine Division (3rd MARDIV) to capture Cape Torokina on Bougainville. In support, Allied aircraft began an intensive pre-invasion bombardments of Bougainville.

IJN: Fifty-four Japanese planes including fifteen D3A Vals from 582 Kōkūtai (582 Air Group) escorted by thirty-nine A6M Zeros from 201 Kōkūtai (201 Air Group), 204 Kōkūtai (204 Air Group) and 253 Kōkūtai (253 Air Group) strike Allied shipping in Oro Bay off New Guinea.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 50+ P-38's and P-40's intercept around 100 [sic 54] Japanese planes attacking Allied shipping in Oro Bay. During the air combat, US fighters claim 40+ shot down. Lost is P-38H 42-66522 pilot 2nd Lt William G. Seiber (survived). Four other P-40's, encounter 20+ Japanese airplanes east of Finschhafen, claim five destroyed; and 70+ medium bombers hit positions and villages from Sio to Saidor. Six B-24's bomb Boela. HQ 22d Bombardment Group and it's 33rd Bombardment Squadron (Medium) and 408th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) transfer from Australia to Dobodura with B-25's; the 22d and 33d transfer from Woodstock and the 408th from Reid River.

USN: Lost is PBY Catalina 08253 pilot Lt(jg) Plank.

USS Tullibee (SS-284) attacks a ten ship convoy, sinking transport Chicago Maru at Lat 24°35'N, Long 120°30'E.