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) Headquarters (HQ), 11th Bombardment Group plus all 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 (HQ) 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.