SATURDAY, 21 AUGUST 1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): During the Aleutian Campaign between June 3, 1942 until August 21, 1943, the Eleventh Air Force claims to destroy 69 aircraft, sank 21 ships and damaged 29 ships for the loss of 29 planes.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 14 B-24's, 7 B-25's, and 11 P-40's
attack docks at Hankow and Hankow Airfield; a large force of fighters, estimated at 50+, attacks the B-24 formation, shooting down 2 of the B-24's;
gunners on the B-24's claim 40+ fighters shot down. In the Hengyang area, 19 P-40's battle 33 airplanes, shooting down 5 Zekes. S of Changsha,
9 P-38's clash with 12 Zekes, shooting down 3.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): B-25's and fighters
strafe barges in Doveli Cove and Marquana and Paraso Bays in the Central Solomons.
RAAF: Seven Beaufighters attack Taberfane Seaplane Base. Lost in an aerial collision over the target are: Beaufighter A19-47 (MIA) and Beaufighter A19-63 (MIA).
USMC: Planners for the New Britain operation circulated an outline naming the units to furnish the assault elements which includes the 1st Marine Division, U.S. Army 32nd Infantry Division, and 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (503rd PIR).
Dai Nippon Airlines: L2D Tabby is shot down by B-24D "Juarez Whistle" 42-40496 over Bono Bay (Gulf of Boni).
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force):
B-17's bomb the Bogadjim area; and single B-24's hit the Salamaua area and
targets of opportunity at Malahang.
B-24's carry out a damaging strike against Pombelaa in the Celebes.
B-25s from the 38th BG including the 71st BS makes a low level attack against But Airfield while the 405th BS made a low level attack against Dagua Airfield. The formation was escorted by sixteen P-38s from the 80th FS. During the flight, there was an overcast over the mountains and scattered clouds over the target area. Over the targets, the B-25s made strafing runs and released parafrag bomb against parked aircraft and the airfields then departed the area. Roughly fifteen miles south of Dagua, the formation was intercepted by approximately 20-30 enemy aircraft. The enemy fighters managed to attack the B-25s as the P-38s dived down from above to intercept. During the air combat, U.S. aircraft claimed eleven enemy aircraft shot down. Lost over the target is P-38G piloted by Guttel (MIA), P-38 piloted by Feehan (MIA) and P-38G piloted by Krisher (MIA). Damaged and ditched off base is P-38F 42-12637 pilot F/O Edwin L. DeGraffenreid (survived). Damaged B-25D 41-30166 (crew injured, one died of wounds) force lands at 7 Mile Drome (Jackson).
References
MacArthur's Eagles (2005) pages 84, 86, 341
(Page 84) "The 80th lost
2nd Lts. Robert E. Feehan, John Guttel, and Elwood G. Krisher."
Ruff Stuff (2006) page 128
"John Guttel was one of the few Jewish pilots [in the 80th FS]. Guttel was part of one of the most costly missions flown by the 80th on August 21, 1943; one that still affects Norb today. None of the other pilots who returned from this mission knew what had happened to them."
Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) pages 200-201 (August 21, 1943 mission), AIII-15
JAAF: Over Wewak, twenty-five Ki-43 Oscars from the 13th Sentai (mostly flying Type 1 fighters at this time), 59th Sentai plus Ki-61 Tonys from the 68th Sentai intercept. During the air combat, the Japanese claim 11 victories plus 4 uncertain and loose seven aircraft with six pilots killed).
Japanese Army Air Force Fighter Units And Their Aces (2002) pages 115 (13th Sentai: 2nd Chutai Leader 1st Lt. Harada, Ryohei August 1942–August 1943), 296-297 (Casualty List: 21/08/43: two killed from 68th Sentai 1st Lt. Hashimoto, Kikuo, Sgt Maj Nishikawa, Sadao / three killed 13th Sentai 1st Lt. Harada, Ryohei, 2nd Lt. Nakamura, Daishiro and Sgt Maj Terada, Fumio / one killed 59th Sentai Sgt Kubo, Shin-ichi)
