February 21, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
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SUNDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 1943

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) Weather prevents all flying from Adak. Fighters based on Amchitka patrol Kiska.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) USAAF, US Navy, US Marine Corps and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) fighters from Guadalcanal provide air support as the 103d Infantry Regiment and 152d Field Artillery Battalion (105mm Howitzer Tractor-Drawn), 43d Infantry Division land on three beaches on Banika 30 miles northwest of Guadalcanal. The landings are unopposed; the 169th Infantry Regiment lands tomorrow. The 103d was a Maine National Guard unit activated in Feb 41; the 169th was a Connecticut NG unit activated at the same time. Airfields will be built. Fifth Air Force aircraft had aided this operation by bombing the Buin area including Kahili Airfield area and Ballale Airfield on Friday and Saturday.

U.S. Army: 43d Division invasion force lands on three beaches in Russell Islands: two on Banika and the other on Pavuvu without opposition. The Initial landing force consists of 43d Div hq, BLT's 1 and 2 and of RCT 103, 43d Cav Rcn Tr, 3rd Marine Raider Bn, 11th Mar Defense Bn detachment, and 43d Signal Co. LCT's bring rest of 43d Div, less RCT 172 from Guadalcanal to Russell Islands. by end of February a total of 9,000 personnel were ashore.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24s bomb the harbor and shipping at Ambon. A-20s bomb and strafe several occupied villages and tracks throughout the Mubo-Komiatum-Salamaua region. Lost on a training flight is B-25C "Draft Dodger" 41-12968 (survived).

RAAF: Lost in a crash landing is Spitfire A58-22 pilot Sgt P. D. Tully slightly injured.