May 21, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 21 MAY 1943

AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Eleventh Air Force) Ten B-24's, twelve B-25's, and 24 P-38's are dispatched to Attu but only 3 missions, totaling 6 P-38's and 1 B-24, are able to bomb and strafe troops and installations. Four other missions, after vainly waiting for a break in the overcast over Attu, instead bomb the Kiska submarine base through the overcast.

China: Final phase of Japanese expedition in central China opens.

RAAF: After midnight, nine Beauforts from No. 100 Squadron including 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 at 11:05pm on May 20, 1943 on night bombing mission (Gur 89) against Gasmata Airfield and surrounding dump areas at Gasmata individually. Lost over the target area is Beaufort A9-188 pilot FlgOff David J. Forrest (MIA).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-17's bomb airfields in the Rabaul area. A J1N1 Irving pilot Shigetoshi Kudo shoots down B-17E 41-9011 and B-17E "Honi Kuu Okole" 41-9244. Meanwhile, B-24s hit Gasmata Airfield. Other B-24s hit Nabire Airfield. B-25's blast AA positions, supply dumps, and town area at Saumlakki. Lost on a reconnaissance mission is F-4 "Dotin' Donna" 41-2177 pilot 2nd Lt. Robert M. Blackard (MIA). 90th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), 3d Bombardment Group (Dive) transfers with B-25's from Port Moresby to Dobodura. The squadron will be redesignated Bombardment Squadron on the 25th.

IJN: At 2:58am, J1N1 Gekko (Irving) piloted by Shigetoshi Kudo field modified with upward and downward firing 20mm cannons took off from Lakunai Airfield on a night fighter mission to intercept U.S. bombers over Rabaul, At 3:37am intercepts and shot down B-17E "Honi Kuu Okole" 41-9244 pilot Major Paul I. Williams (MIA). At 4:28am intercepts and shot down B-17E 41-9011 pilot 1st Lt. Leslie W. Neumann (POW/MIA). At 5:35am the Gekko (Irving) lands safely having expended only 178 rounds against both bombers.

NEIAF: Three B-25s took off from Darwin for an attack on Saumlaki on Jamdena. Lost is B-25C N5-147 pilot 1st Lt L. Bal (POW/MIA).

USN: The last eight survivors from SS John Drayton, sunk by Italian submarine Leonardo da Vinci in the Indian Ocean on April 21, 1943, are rescued. Originally, 24 men had been in the boat found this date, only the eight remain. A total of 21 merchant seamen and six Armed Guard sailors perish in the loss of John Drayton.

USMC: A group of Marine scouts are landed by PBY Catalina off Segi to reconnoiter the area; patrol reports indicated the beaches at Segi will not accommodate a large landing force.

U.S. Army: On southern front on Attu, Co E of 32d Inf reduces last enemy strong point on peak dominating Clevesy Pass. 1st Bn, 4th Inf, pushes forward to ridge overlooking Sarana-Chichagof Pass and facing Fish Hook Ridge; patrols to mouth of the pass. After prolonged bombardment by all available weapons, Co L of 32d Inf, Northern Force, takes hill that has been barring its progress toward Fish Hook Ridge. Meanwhile, the remaining two companies of 1st Bn, 32d Inf, land on Attu.