March 18, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 18 MARCH 1943

(Eleventh Air Force) Six B-24s from Adak bomb the main camp area on Kiska. Six B-25s bomb North Head, and twelve P-38s fly top cover and perform strafing attacks. Twelve P-38s from Amchitka hit Kiska Airfield and Main Camp area causing fires. At Amchitka, the 54th Fighter Squadron is reinforced by several F-5A's.

BURMA AND INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 16 P-40's bomb and strafe the stronghold of Seniku, claiming a high enemy casualty rate. Seven others attack Nalong. Sixteen B-24's bomb the Pazundaung bridge, causing considerable damage to the structure. Eight B-25's damage the Myitnge bridge; 8 other B-25's hit AA positions in the Myitnge general area. A detachment of the 9th Photographic Squadron, Tenth Air Force begins operating from Dinjan, India.

Burma: 6th Brig of Br 2d Div, assisted by 71st Brig of Ind 26th Div, makes final and vain effort to clear Donbaik. Japanese continue infiltration and envelopment tactics, leaving Imperial forces no choice but to withdraw northward. Ind 77th Brig (Chindits) completes its crossing of the Irrawaddy, but because of increasing hardships eventually abandons plan to cut Mandalay-Lashio rail line and returns in small groups to India.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) HQ 307th Bombardment Group and it's 370th and 424th Bombardment Squadrons with B-24's transfer from the Territory of Hawaii to Guadalcanal. Both squadrons has been operating from Espirtu Santo since 6 Feb.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24's pound the town of Madang. In the Bismarck Archipelago, single B-17's strafe a launch at Talasea and barges northeast of Cape Gloucester, while a lone B-24 bombs Timoeka and Langgoer. Crash landed is P-39K 42-4312.

RAAF: Five Bostons from No. 22 Squadron strike Salamaua. Lost is DB-7 Boston A28-3 pilot FLTLT William Ellis Newton ditched nearby.