May 2, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 2 MAY 1943

(Eleventh Air Force) Six B-25's, eight P-40's, and eight P-38's fly bombing, photographic and attack missions to Kiska. Targets include North Head, South Head and buildings and AA gun batteries on Gertrude Cove.

CBI CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force) In China, 17 P-40's intercept 30-40 fighters near Lingling and in a running battle to just north of Changsha claim at least 7 Zekes downed. One P-40 is shot down.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17s on harassing strikes hit the Rekata Bay area and Munda Airfield. P-38's and P-39's join Navy aircraft in pounding the runway area at Munda Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25s bomb Penfoei. In New Guinea, other B-25s unsuccessfully attack a vessel off Toeal. A single B-17 bombs dock area at Finschhafen.

USN: USS Gar (SS-206) sinks Japanese guardboat No.12 Jimbo Maru in Makassar Strait at Lat 0°41'S Long 117°50'E.

USS Stingray (SS-186) attacks Japanese convoy off Wenchow, China, sinking army transport Tamon Maru about 12 miles off Nanki Shan, 27°18'N, 121°38'E.

IJN: Japanese submarine I-19 torpedoes and damages SS William Williams near Suva at Lat 20°09'S, Long 178°04'W. There were no casualties among the 40-man merchant crew and the 15-man Armed Guard; the latter remains on board with a fire-fighting crew to battle the blaze in two compartments.

Japan: At Rabaul, Japanese commanders create the Southeast Detached Force for the defense of the central Solomon Islands.