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

THURSDAY, 8 APRIL 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) A weather airplane scouts Kiska and islands west of it with negative results.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's bomb Meiktila Airfield; Six B-24's attack the airfield at Heho Airfield; and Ft Bayard Airfield is strafed by 9 P-40's. Enemy stores at Ningam are hit by 4 P-40's and a B-25.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) HQ 11th Bombardment Group four squadrons, 26th Bombardment Squadron, 42d Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Squadron and 431st Bombardment Squadron with B-17E's and B-17F's, transfer from Espiritu Santo back to Hawaii. Headquarters and 431st BS to Hickam Field; the 26th BS to Bellows Field, the 42nd BS to Kualoa Point and the 98th BS to Mokuleia.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's and B-24's carry out small harassing strikes, bombing Ulamoa, Finschhafen, and the airfield at Kavieng. Lost on a ferry flight is B-26 40-1417 (rescued). Lost is C-49 "Calamity Mary Jane" 41-7694 (MIA).

USN: At 4:00am damaged USS Kanawha (AO-1) sinks off Tulagi.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Toyo Maru is sunk by aircraft, Rabaul, 05°04'N, 139°43'E.