February 2, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 1943

CBI (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, P-40s strafe aircraft, AA positions and targets of opportunity at Kentung. The 1st Troop Carrier Squadron, Tenth Air Force, attached to the India-China Wing, Air Transport Command, with C-47s arrives at Chabua from the U.S.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17s, along with escorting P-40s and P-38s, attack shipping off Shortland. 20 Japanese aircraft intercept with 9 claimed destroyed. B-17s and P-39s sink Japanese cargo vessel Keiyo Maru off the Shortlands. Other B-26s, P-38s and P-39s attack Munda Airfield. The 18th Photographic Mapping Squadron, 4th Photographic Group with B-25s transfers from Nouméa to Espiritu Santo. The bulk of the air echelon remains in the U.S. This squadron is redesignated 18th Photographic Squadron on 6 Feb 43.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17s bomb the airfield at Rabaul. B-24s attack shipping sink Japanese cargo vessel Kenkoku Maru at 04°58'S, 151°12'E between Lolobau and New Britain and north of Open Bay, bomb the runway at Gasmata Airfield and hit Timika. A-20s continue to bomb and strafe positions on the high points between Mubo and Komiatum. The 319th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 90th Bombardment Group with B-24s transfers from Iron Range to Darwin.

U.S. Army: On Guadalcanal, 1st Bn, 147th Infantry Regiment succeeds in crossing the mouth of the Bonegi River and makes contact with 3d Bn south of Tassafaronga Point. 2d Bn of 132d Inf, Americal Division begins advance northward along coast from Verahue with the main body reaching Titi.

U.S. Navy: Japanese destroyer Makigumo is damaged by mine laid by light minelayers USS Tracy (DM-19), USS Montgomery (DM-17) and USS Preble (DM-20) off Cape Esperance the previous night; she is scuttled by destroyer Yugumo, 09°10'S, 159°45'E. Admiral William F. Halsey Jr., Commander South Pacific Force, lauds the success of the mining mission as resulting from "bold execution of a sound plan," while Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet, calls it a "splendidly conducted operation... carried out by old ships, inadequate in speed and gun power..."