February 16, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 1943

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) Weather reconnaissance aircraft flies over Kiska, Attu, Agattu, Semicis and Buldir. Five B-24s, 6 B-25s, 6 P-38s and 1 B-25 photographic aircraft take off for Kiska but do not attack due to weather. One P-40, accompanying several P-38s on the Amchitka fighter patrol, lands on Amchitka Airfield; an afternoon patrol of 7 P-40s and 1 transport also land at Amchitka Airfield which is now safe for limited operations.

IJN: Japanese make their last nuisance raid on Amchitka as first Allied plane lands at Amchitka Airfield.

CBI (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 18 P-40s hit targets of opportunity in the Nsopzup and Hpunkizup areas.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Rear Admiral Charles P Mason becomes Commander Aircraft Solomon (COMAIRSOLS) with operational control of all Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), USAAF, USMC and USN aircraft in the Solomon Islands. Lost returning from a bombing mission in bad weather in the early morning is B-24D 41-23870 (1 MIA, 8 rescued) and B-24D "Bundles For Japan" 41-23969 (2 KIA, 7 rescued).

U.S. Army: On Guadalcanal, in preparation for invasion of Russell Islands "Operation Cleanslate" the first echelon of 43rd Division assault force (RCT 103 and RCT 169) under 43d Div CG, Maj Gen John H. Hester arrives.

U.S. Army In New Guinea, the U.S. Army Sixth Army is established in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) under command of Lt Gen Walter Krueger and consists of I Corps under the command of General Eichelberger, 2nd Engineer Special Brigade, and 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment (503rd PIR) with the 1st Marine Division (1st MAR DIV) attached.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17s bomb a warehouse at Ubili. B-25s bomb Malahang Airfield and strafe targets of opportunity on the peninsula of Salamaua.

USN: USS Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese stores ship Hyuga Maru 24 miles off Pagan 18°30'N, 145°57'E.

USS Triton (SS-201) departs Brisbane for her sixth war patrol. She will never be seen again and presumed lost March 6, 1943.