THURSDAY, 20 MAY 1943
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) All air-ground
support missions to Attu are canceled due to weather. Twenty P-40's bomb the Main
Camp and submarine area at Kiska, and strafe barges in Kiska Harbor. The remaining
Japanese on Attu are concentrated in the Chichagof Harbor area.
U..S. Army: On Attu southern front, Co G of 17th Inf clears one of the 2 peaks dominating Clevesy Pass in morning, but efforts of 2d Bn and Co C of 32d Inf to take the other fail. Co E of 32d Inf then moves forward for night enveloping attack, scaling the steep slopes cautiously in effort to take enemy by surprise. Meanwhile, 1st Bn of 4th Inf moves through Clevesy Pass to attack heights across upper part of Sarana Valley and makes substantial progress. 3d Bn, 17th Inf, patrols along Sarana Valley and fires upon enemy located by 1st Bn, 4th Inf. Northern Force continues to clear preliminary hill line of Fish Hook Ridge.
CBI BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) The 490th
Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 341st Bombardment Group (Medium) based at
Ondal begins operating from Chakulia with B-25's.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) During the night
of 20/21 May, heavy bombers on snooper missions bomb he Kahili area and Ballale.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) Gasmta Airfield and surrounding areas of Gasmata are hit by
A-20's during the night of 20/21 May [sic this is in error] and by B-17's during the day. B-17's and
B-24's bomb Vunakanau Airfield. B-25's sink several barges offshore
between Madang and Cape Cretin. HQ 3d Bombardment Group (Dive) transfers from
Port Moresby to Dobodura. The group and it's 4 squadrons will
be redesignated Bombardment Group/Squadron on 25 May to reflect their
true aircraft.
RAAF: During the night of May 20-21, 1943 nine Beauforts: Beaufort A9-203, Beaufort A9-193, Beaufort A9-227, Beaufort A9-188, Beaufort A9-212, Beaufort A9-216, Beaufort A9-214, Beaufort A9-211 and Beaufort A9-200 took off on a night bombing mission (Gur 89) against Gasmata Airfield and surrounding dump areas at Gasmata individually after midnight on May 21, 1943.
USN: USS Pollack (SS-180) sinks Japanese armed merchant cruiser Bangkok Maru southeast of Jaluit, Marshalls, 06°47'N, 169°42'E. Pollack is damaged by depth charges during counterattacks by what she claims is a Chidori-class torpedo boat but remains on patrol.
USMC: The Director of Aviation also became Assistant Commandant (Air).
