August 2, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 2 AUGUST 1943

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): Eight B-24's, nine B-25's, and eight P-38's hit Kiska in two waves, bombing and strafing North Head, and coast guns on Little Kiska scoring several hits. 1 or 2 enemy aircraft over Attu cannot be intercepted due to weather.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-17's bomb supply dumps on the shores of Hansa Bay and targets of opportunity along the Francisco River; A-20's hit Buiambun and B-25's pound barges from Lae to Bogadjim and from Lae to Kepler Point and from the Bubui River to Lepsius Point. B-25s and P-38s sink Japanese motor torpedo boats Gyoraitei No.112 and Gyoraitei No.113 at Lae. Lost is B-25D 41-30221 pilot Captain William L. Uhler (MIA). B-24s bomb Huon Guff, Salamaua, and the westerm shore of Voco Point.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): B-25's, B-17's, P-40's, and US Navy fighters pound the shores of Bairoko Harbor; and B-24's, B-25's, P-40's and Navy F4U's hit a supply area on the west side of Webster Cove. Crashed on takeoff is B-17E "Yankee Doodle" 41-2463 pilot Lt. Eugene "Gene" Roddenberry with two killed in the nose.

U.S. Army: On New Georgia, RCT 27 of 25th Div and div hq arrive on New Georgia I, where RCT 27 is given mission of defending the north flank of XIV Corps and maintaining contact with 2d Bn of 148th Inf, 37th Div. XIV Corps is steadily clearing the Munda Airfield area.

USN: PT-109 is rammed and sunk by Japanese destroyer Amagiri.

RAAF: Eighteen P-40s escort Beaufighters and Bostons attacking Gasmata Airfield. Force landed is P-40K Kittyhawk A29-201.

USN: Task Group 16.6 (TG 16.6) under Rear Admiral Wilder D. Baker and Task Group 16.17 (TG 16.17) under Rear Admiral Howard F. Kingman with two battleships, two heavy cruisers, three light cruisers and nine destroyers, bombard Kiska. Between August 2–15, Kiska is bombarded ten times.

Motor torpedo boats continue to engage Japanese destroyers off Kolombongara.

PT-109 is rammed and sunk by Japanese destroyer Amagiri in the Blackett Strait at Lat 8°03'S, Long 156°58'E.

RAAF Catalinas damage Japanese destroyer Akikaze south of Rabaul, 06°50'N, 151°10'E.