May 17, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 17 MAY 1943

U.S. Army: On Attu at Holtz Bay force 3d Bn, 32d Inf, moves forward well before dawn and by daylight finds that enemy has withdrawn. Patrols report east arm of Holtz Bay free of enemy. Massacre Bay force also finds positions at Massacre Bay previously defended by enemy abandoned and occupies Jarmin Pass. The patrol moves forward in effort to establish contact with Northern Force.

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, two attempted ground support missions to Attu by a B-24, 5 B-25's, and 6 P-38's are recalled due to weather. The detachment of the 11th Fighter Squadron (P-40's), 343d Fighter Group that has been operating from Amchitka returns to Adak.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) P-39's and Navy airplanes bomb and strafe a bivouac and AA positions in the Rekata Bay area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-25's bomb Dili, Penfoei, and Barique. B-25's bomb Gasmata. Single heavy bombers hit Gasmata and Cape Gloucester. Damaged is B-17E "Loose-Goose" 41-2609 but returns safely. Single heavy bombers hit Lae and Finschhafen.

RAAF: Vivigani Airfield is first used by six Beauforts from No. 100 Squadron staging from Gurney Field for a bombing mission against Gasmata.

USN: USS Grayback (SS-208) attacks Japanese convoy, sinking army cargo ship England Maru about 60 miles northwest of Mussau Island, 01°00'S, 148°40'E.

USS Dash (AM-88) rescues 56 survivors from SS William K. Vanderbilt, torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I-19 yesterday southwest of Suva.

Japanese cargo ship Woosung Maru hits a reef and sinks off Chiba Prefecture, southern Honshu, 35°00'N, 140°00'E.