August 11, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 11 AUGUST 1943

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): B-24's, B-25's, A-24s, and P-38's pound Kiska during 11 attack missions; later, ten reconnaissance, strafing and photo missions to Kiska are flown by 3 P-38's, 26 P-40's, 4 F-5A's and 1 B-24. Nine B-24's from Attu Airfield drop  bombs and incendiaries on Paramushiru, including Kashiwabara Airfield and Shimushu where the Kataoka Naval Base and staging area are hit. Forty enemy aircraft challenge the attackers, which claim four confirmed kills, one probable, and four possibles.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): The 76th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, transfers from Lingling to Hengyang with P-40's.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Five B-24's hit a supply area on the east side of Suavanau Point and Papatura Fa.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-24 on armored reconnaissance sinks an enemy freighter NW of Kavieng bombing Minesweeper W.22 at 01°20'S, 148°55'E. The Second Air Task Force completes a movement to Tsili Tsili Airfield, New Guinea.

RAAF: Lost is Beaufighter A19-74 crashed on takeoff.

U.S. Army: Lt Gen Robert C. Richardson, Jr., organizes a small Task Force of the 804th Aviation Engr Bn, prov AAA Bn, prov air service support sq, fighter sq, and service units) to develop Baker Island to support coming offensive in Central Pacific.

USN: Admiral William F. Halsey issues orders for further operations in central Solomon Islands. Northern Force, Task Force 30 (TF 30) under Rear Adm Theodore S. Wilkinson is to land troops (RCT 35, 25th Division and supporting units) under Brig Gen Robert B. McClure will land at Vella Lavella and bypass strong Japanese forces at Vila on Kolombangara. The New Georgia Occupation Force is to extend its positions to Arundel and shell enemy on Kolombangara. 43rd Division amphibious patrol finds evidence that Japanese are holding Baanga.

USS Finback (SS-230) damages Japanese auxiliary vessel Tatsumiya Maru bound for Singapore at 05°30'S, 120°48'E, and endures counterattack by escorting auxiliary submarine chaser Toseki Maru.

Liberty ship SS Matthew Lyon is torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-11 at 13°42'S, 165°59'E but manages to reach Espiritu Santo under her own power. Of the 59 sailors aboard, 41 merchant sailors and an 18-man Armed Guard, only one is injured.