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.

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).

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.