March 1, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 1 MARCH 1943

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) P-40s jettison their bombs when bad weather prevents a sweep over Kiska.

USN: Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Annette Island is established.

Burma: Sumprabum is evacuated by Br civil authorities. Japanese subsequently move into the village and continue to skirmish with Kachin levies in the area, but make no further progress toward Fort Hertz.

(Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 46 P-40s hit targets of opportunity in the Nsopzup area and throughout the Hukawng Valley.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) A-20s bomb and strafe forces at Guadagasal and along the trails throughout the Mubo, Komiatum and Salamaua areas. B-17s bomb the runway on Gasmata. In the Sunda Islands of the Netherland East Indies, B-24s carry out single-plane attacks on shipping off Soemba Island and Soembawa Island and Solomon Sea. Lost is P-40E pilot Lynd (KIA).

B-24D "Miss Deed" 41-24070 spots a Japanese convoy of transports escorted by destroyers with fighter cover en route from Rabaul bound for Lae.

IJN: Japanese submarine I-10 torpedoes U.S. tanker Gulfwave at 22°30'S, 174°45'E; Gulfwave reaches Suva, Fiji under her own power and suffers no casualties to either her merchant crew or the Armed Guard.