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

SATURDAY, 17 JULY 1943

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force) The 71st Liaison Squadron, Tenth Air Force, transfers from Ondal, India to Ramgarh, India and begins training with L-4's and L-5's.

(USN) Five PB4Ys took off from Guadalcanal on a predawn attack on Kahilli Airfield. Two from VB-102 and three from VB-101 dropped cluster bombs from 12,000' over the airfield. On the return leg, two from VB-102 were intercepted by a J1N1 Irving night fighter. One fighter was seen to crash and burn. PB4Y-1 31952 (MIA) was observed to going down.

(Thirteenth Air Force) Seven B-24's and 70+ US Navy and Marine Corps planes escorted by 100+ USAAF and Allied fighters, attack shipping off Buin. The B-24's claim hits on two cargo vessels, and the dive bombers claim serious damage of three destroyers, a patrol ship, an oiler, a merchant ship, and the two cargo vessels. Sunk is Hatsuyuki. In the air battle, Allied aircraft claim 40+ Zekes and at least 4 float planes shot down; Five Allied airplanes are lost. F4U Corsair 02421 pilot Captain Foy Ray Garrison (MIA), SBD Dauntless 10586 pilot 1st Lt. Edward Henry Hughes (MIA), SBD Dauntless 10918 pilot Captain Leonard Mailloux (MIA) P-38G Lightning 42-13361 pilot 1st James W. Hoyle (MIA) P-38G "Matilda" 43-2206 pilot 2nd Lt. Benjamin H. King (rescued).

The 75th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42d Bombardment Group (Medium), which has been operating from Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield with B-25's, returns to Henderson Field.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force) During the night of 17/18 Jul, B-25's bomb Lautem while B-24's bomb Adaoet Island in the Moluccas Islands. In New Guinea during the day, B-25's pound the airfield, Army HQ and defensive positions, and the general area in and around Salamaua as Allied forces from the Nassau Bay-Mubo area begin a drive on Salamaua; the drive is a secondary effort designed to divert enemy attention from a subsequent Allied campaign to secure the Markham Valley and Huon Peninsula and thus gain control of Vitiaz Strait and Dampier Strait.

IJA: An unsynchrohized counterattack by the Japanese Army 13th Regiment and 229th Regiment against the Laiana beachhead and the U.S. 169th Regiment position farther north failed, ending Japanese attempts to regain the offensive initiative on New Georgia.

U.S. Army: On New Georgia, furing the night of July 17-18 the 43rd Divison withstands the only organized offensive attempted by Japanese during Munda operation. The counterattacks at various points are generally unsuccessful.

On New Guinea, Coane Force (2d and 3d Bns of 162d Inf, U.S. 41st Div, and supporting units) moves out from Nassau Bay to join the Australian Army 3rd Division in drive toward Salamaua. The attack on Salamaua, under Australian Army command, is a secondary effort designed to divert enemy from next main effort, which is to secure Markham Valley and Huon Peninsula and gain control of Vitiaz Strait and Dampier Strait.

USN: Japanese bombers bomb seaplane tender USS Chincoteague (AVP-24) is damaged in Saboe Bay off Vanikoro Island. Seaplane tender (destroyer) USS Thornton (AVD-11), high speed minesweeper USS Trever (DMS-18), and destroyer USS Jenkins (DD-447) render timely assistance to protect the crippled ship.

Lost is TBF Avenger 06240 on a training accident on Espiritu Santo.

USMC: After a short period of rest, the 4th Raider Battalion under Colonel Currin embarks 35 officers and 666 enlisted aboard destroyer-transports USS Ward (APD-16), USS Kilty (DD-137), USS McKean (APD-5) and USS Waters (APD-8) on Guadalcanal for the seven hour voyage to Enogai arriving July 18, 1943 at 1:00am.