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

THURSDAY, 1 APRIL 1943

CARIBBEAN (Sixth Air Force) The 3d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 6th Bombardment Group (Heavy) with B-24's transfers from David Field to Talara Field.

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) A joint directive by Commander-in-Chief, Pacific and Commanding General Western Defense Command orders preparations for Operation LANDGRAB, the invasion of Attu. Sixteen B-24, 5 B-25, and 12 P-38 sorties are flown against Kiska from Adak and Amchitka. Targets include a ship in Gertrude Cove, the North Head area, the Main Camp and the beach. AA fire damages two bombers. Reconnaissance covers Kiska, Attu, Buldir, and Semichi. During April, the 73d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 28th Composite Group with B-25's transfers from Elmendorf Field to Umnak.

CINCPAC and WDC CG issue joint directive for invasion of Attu scheduled for May 7, 1943. Adm Kinkaid as commander of North Pacific Force (Task Force 16, formerly Task Force 8) will head the operation. Under him, Adm Rockwell, Commander Amphibious Force North Pacific, is to conduct landing operations. Maj Gen Albert E. Brown's 7th Division, although trained for mechanized warfare in the desert, is to make the assault.

China: Infantry and Arty Training Centers for Chinese Y-Force officers begins.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 16 B-25's bomb the Maymyo railroad sheds. Eight others hit the railroad yards at Ywatsung.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) nine Japanese fighters are intercepted over Lingling by P-40's, claiming 7 shot down and one P-40 lost.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 42 fighters (P-38's and Navy and Marine aircraft) are sent over the Russell Islands to intercept Japanese enroute to Tulagi and Guadalcanal to protect the incomplete airstrips in the Russell Islands. The air battle lasts for nearly 3 hours. Six US fighters are lost, against claims of 20 Japanese airplanes destroyed. Lost is P-38 pilot Young.

IJN: A large Japanese strike force including D3A Vals escorted by A6M Zeros from 204 Kokutai, 251 Kokutai and 582 Kokutai plus Carrier Division Two (CARDIV 2) planes from Zuikaku, Shokaku, and Zuiho commanded Rear Admiral Kakuta Kakuji. Carrier Division One (CARDIV 1) was composed of planes from Ryujo, Junyo, and Hiyo. Since February 1943, aircraft from these carriers planes were operating land based to replace air power at Rabaul after the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) 4th Air Army transfer of approximately 200 planes to Wewak.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17s bomb a Japanese convoy off Kavieng and sink Kokoko Maru and bomb Gasmata Airfield and Cape Gloucester Airfield. B-17's attack the town of Madang. Flights of from 1 to 3 medium or heavy bombers hit several other targets, mostly isolated shipping and coastline targets in the Netherlands East Indies and in the Solomon Sea. At Port Moresby personel from Advance Echelon, 5th Air Force in New Guinea poses for a photo including personnel from 3rd Bomb Group (3rd BG) and attached RAAF airmen.

USN: USS Gato (SS-212) is damaged by depth charges off New Ireland, 03° 08'S, 153° 00'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.

USMC: Marine Aircraft Group 53 (MAG-53) commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Prank H. Schwable is commissioned at Cherry Point, North Carolina, as the first Marine night fighter group. The 4th Base Depot, a supply organization, was activated at Noumea to provide support for upcoming New Georgia campaign.