May 23, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 23 MAY 1943

(Sixth Air Force): 3d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 6th Bombardment Group (Heavy) transfers with B-24's from Talara to Salinas.

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force) Six B-24's and 12 B-25's fly 3 air-ground support missions to Attu, due to bad weather they are routed to Kiska. Weather there is also poor and only one B-25 bombs the Main Camp area of Kiska. Next, 3 B-24's and 18 P-38's fly 3 air cover missions to Attu. The last of these missions is notified by a PBY that 16 Japanese bombers are west of Attu. 5 of the P-38's then intercept the bombers over Attu, which jettison their bombs and close formation. The P-38's score 5 kills and 7 probables. 2 P-38's are lost. The 344th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group begins a movement from Umnak to Shemya. The air echelon is operating with P-40's from Amchitka.

U.S. Army: On Attu, Southern Force, employing 2d Bn of 17th Inf, begins attack on Fish Hook Ridge but is soon pinned down by enemy fire. Strong patrols of Northern Force attempt unsuccessfully to force Holtz-Sarana Pass. Direct communication between Northern and Southern Forces is possible for first time as wire is laid between the two. Coordinated attack for the Fish Hook is then planned.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force) A flight of P-40's on patrol from Kauai bomb a submarine from 1,500' and observe an oil slick and debris.SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force) 5 B-24's bomb Kahili Airfield and Ballale Airfield during the night of 23/24 May. 10 B-17's, attempting a follow-up strike, abort because of bad weather. While other aircraft are successfully laying mines off the Buin area, 19 B-17's and B-24's, in a diversionary raid, bomb the Buin-Kahili-Tonolai shoreline area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) B-24's and B-17's hit the harbor and airfield at Kavieng, the airfield at Gasmata, and the village of Ubili. The 13th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), 3d Bombardment Group (Dive) transfers with B-25's from Port Moresby to Dobodura.

RAAF: Vengeance A27-208 pilot Sgt John Edwin Sheehan (survived) force landed.

USN: Motor torpedo boat tender USS Niagara (AGP-1) is damaged by horizontal bomber while en route from Tulagi to New Guinea, then scuttled by motor torpedo boat PT-147 at Lat 11°00'S, Long 163°00'E.

USMC: On Samoa, the 22nd Marines are detached from the 3d Marine Brigade and moved to Tutuila where it remains a separate tactical unit "Samoa".