March 8, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 8 MARCH 1943

(Eleventh Air Force) The 344th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group with P-40's transfers from Ft. Randall to Ft. Glenn.

China: Japanese cross Yangtze between Ichang and Yoyang.

(Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 12 B-25s strike at the Myitnge bridge and AA positions. Results are poor. Four B-24s bomb Bassein docks. P-40s hit military targets near Pebu and Wan-hat.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Airfields at Munda and Vila on are again hit by light B-24 raids.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Heavy bombers, operating individually, hit occupied areas in the SE coastal region of NW New Guinea and also strike at Saumlakki and Babo. Crashed while landing is C-47 Skytrain at Bulolo Airfield. On a solo reconnaissance mission, B-17E "The Old Man" 41-24403 was intercepted over Gasamata with many crew injured but managed to return to base.

U.S. Army: s'Jacob is sunk by Japanese aircraft. During the sinking, Pvt George Watson aids others who can not swim before he is lost.

USN: USS Permit (SS-178), attacks a Japanese convoy off northern tip of Honshu, sinks Hisashima Maru at 41°16'N, 142°27'E.

U.S. freighter James B. Stephens independently bound for Durban, is torpedoed by U-160 off the coast of South Africa, 28°53'S, 33°18'E; one Armed Guard sailor drowns in the abandonment after the ship breaks in two. The forward half ultimately sinks while under tow toward Durban; the after half is scuttled with gunfire.