May 5, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 5 MAY 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) A weather reconnaissance airplane over Attu observes a floatplane burning on the water. Fourteen B-24's, 17 B-25's, 16 P-38's, 32 P-40's, and 5 F-5A's fly 4 attack missions to Attu and 6 [partly with Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots] to Kiska targets include Main Camp, a radar site, North and South Head, Kiska runway and Gertrude Cove installations. Bombs are dropped on Attu installations and fighters strafe and set afire one seaplane and silence AA guns.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) 73rd Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group with P-40s transfers from NAS Kaneohe to Mokuleia. The squadron will begin transitioning to the P-47D Thunderbolt in late 1943.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) In the Solomons, P-38's and Navy F4U's strafe Nyanga. Ditched is F-5A pilot Weckel (rescued).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-25's pound Toeal. A lone B-24 bombs Cape Gloucester Airfield and Gasmata Airfield.

Australian Army: Japanese Army began attempting to reoccupy Bobdubi but were subjected to Australian raids and ambushes and forced to withdraw.