May 11, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 11 MAY 1943

U.S. Army: 7th Division lands at widely separated points on Attu. Dense fog limits naval gunfire and air support, but helps infantry achieve complete tactical surprise. 17th Inf (less BLT 1), with 2d Bn of 32d Inf attached as reserve, makes main landing of Southern Landing Force on coast of Massacre Bay (Beaches Blue and Yellow) in afternoon; 2d and 3d Bns of 17th Inf push rapidly northward up Massacre Valley toward Jarmin (Massacre-Holtz Bay) Pass until pinned down about 1900 by intense enfilading fire from heights surrounding the valley. Platoon of 7th Rcn Tr makes subsidiary landing at Alexai Point and joins main body at Massacre Bay without opposition. BLT 1, 17th Inf--the main assault group of Northern Landing Force goes ashore at end of west arm of Holtz Bay (Beach Red) in afternoon; pushes southward toward Jarmin Pass to within 800 yards of its first objective, hill mass called Hill X, virtually unopposed. Prov Bn (7th Scout Co and 7th Rcn Tr, less one platoon) makes subsidiary landing on the north coast west of Holtz Bay (Beach Scarlet) before dawn and moves inland unopposed toward Jarmin Pass. Gen Brown, 7th Div CG, arrives on Massacre Bay and orders assault on Jarmin Pass for 12th. Mud immobilizes trucks and tractors.

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) The following missions are flown to support US forces landing on Attu: 1 air-ground liaison sortie by 1 B-24; a B-24 supply sortie dropping supplies to ground forces; and 5 attack missions, flown by 11 B-24's and 12 B-25's. The first attack mission cannot find the target and instrument-bombs targets which include the runway, radar, submarine base, and camp area. Because of poor visibility the next two missions hit Kiska, where Kiska runway and Main Camp are attacked. Two B-24's then bomb the Chichagof Harbor area through fog while another drops leaflets on Attu.

CBI: Monsoon rains haults work on the Ledo Road about 47 miles from Ledo.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) The 26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), with B-17's, transfers from Bellows Field to Wheeler Field and begins transitioning to B-24Ds.

CBI BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 6 B-24's pound Syriam, causing large fires in the town area.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's fly harassing strikes during the night of 10/11 against Kahili Airfield and Shortland. The 390th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium) with B-25's, transfers from the Fiji to Henderson Field.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) In the Bismarck Archipelago, B-17's and B-24's hit Rabaul and Lakunai Airfield. B-25's bomb Penfoei and Dili. The 403d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 43d Bombardment Group (Heavy), with B-24's transfers from Mareeba to 7 Mile Drome.