August 16, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 16 AUGUST 1943

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): A B-24 reconnaissance flight reconnoiters North Head, Main Camp, and northern Kiska, and observes friendly forces unopposed advance into Main Camp.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): Bombers hit and claim two small vessels sunk about 130 miles south of Rangoon. The 89th Fighter Squadron, 80th Fighter Group, transfers from Karachi to Gushkara with P-40's. The squadron will fly it's first mission on 8 Sep 43.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 4 P-40's bomb town of Tengchung, China.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): Two B-24s bomb the oil tanks at Balikpapan. Two B-25's bomb Larat. Japanese air raid against Tsili Tsili Airfield by seven Ki-48 Lilys escorted by 33 Ki-43 Oscars (other sources claim 25). Meanwhile, twenty four C-47s took off from Port Moresby, transporting aviation fuel and supplies to the newly built Tsili Tsili Airfield and Marilinan. The 5th Air Force provided a much stronger fighter escort for the C-47s following the loss of two transports to Japanese Army fighters the previous day at Tsili Tsili. Escorting the transports were 32 P-47 Thunderbolts (16 from the 340th FS and 16 from the 341st FS, 348th FG, the first combat mission of the Thunderbolt in New Guinea plus 12 P-38's from 431st FS which had only recently begun operations in New Guinea provide escort. The Japanese strike was completely thwarted and twelve Japanese fighters claimed as shot down. All of the 24 transports landed safely at Tsili Tsili Airfield. While unloading was underway a Japanese strike from Wewak consisting of 33 Ki-43 Oscars escorting seve (other sources claim 3) Ki-48 Lilys attempt to attack Tsili Tsili Airfield. Each U.S. squadron became involved in separate combats with the escorting Ki-43s and numerous claims were made on both sides. Lost is P-47D pilot Leighton (MIA). Damaged is P-38 pilot Blythe but manages to land at Tsili Tsili Airfield. This mission marked the first use of the P-47 Thunderbolt in combat in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

RAAF: Lost is Beaufighter A19-130 pilot Wing Commander Clarence P. Glasscock (rescued) ditched off Fergusson Island.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): NIne B-24's bomb Papatura near Rekata Bay. 12 B-25's, 5 B-17's, and 30+ US Navy planes attack Vila Airfield.

U.S. Army: 43d Div commander personally directs operations on Baanga and commits 172d Regt (-) as well as 169th (-) plus artillery support but progress is still slow. Japanese guns on Baanga begin shelling Munda.

USN: Lost is PBY Catalina 2446 (rescued) off the south coast of New Guinea.

USMC: The 4th Marine Division (4th MAR DIV) commanded by Major General Harry Schmidt is activated at Camp Pendleton in California. It was the only Marine Division during World War II to be activated and staged into combat directly from the United States.