April 4, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 4 APRIL 1943

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 8 B-25's hit the Maymyo engine sheds. Nine others bomb the Pyawbwe railroad yards. Seven B-24's heavily damage the Thilawa oil refinery.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher assumes the position of Commander Air Solomons (COMAIRSOL) which has operational control of all Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), USAAF, USMC and USN aircraft in the South Pacific. A detachment of the 18th Photographic Squadron (Heavy), 4th Photographic Group with B-25s begins operating from Espiritu Santo.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's and A-20's pound areas along the Huon Gulf, around Kitchen Creek and the Heath Plantation and Lane Plantation. Single B-17s bomb Salamaua. B-17s bomb Kavieng and Kavieng Airfield. Single B-17's bomb Cape Gloucester.

U.S. Army: Elements of the U.S. Army "MacKechnie Force" land at Morobe Harbor and occupy Morobe.

USN: USS Haddock (SS-231), damaged by depth charges off Palaus, 09°31'N, 133°39'E, is forced to terminate her patrol. USS Porpoise (SS-172) sinks Japanese whaling ship Koa Maru near Eniwetok atoll, 13°10'N, 162°05'E.

USMC: The last elements of Marine Aircraft Group 21 (MAG-21) arrive on Banika Island.