August 22, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 22 AUGUST 1943

U.S. Army: On Kiska, an uneventful search for any Japanese is completed. The Allied force suffers light casualties due to accidents and friendly fire incidents.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 4 P-40's bomb Japanese HQ and a supply dump at Tengchung, and strafe trucks and troops in the area; 2 others strafe road traffic between Tengchung and Lungling. The 12th Photographic Squadron, Fourteenth Air Force, transfers from Bishnupur to Kunming with F-5's. The flight which has been operating from Kweilin since Jul will remain there until Sep 43.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): B-25's and US Navy dive bombers, escorted by fighter aircraft, bomb barge centers on the W coast of Vella Lavella.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's strike Dili. As a result of the air offensive against Wewak and satellite airfields, Japanese air power on New Guinea is sufficiently neutralized.

USMC: An advance party of the 2d Marine Airdrome Battalion landed at Nukufetau where an air base was to be established to support the projected operations in the Marshalls and Gilberts.

USN: During the night of August 22-23, four Allied destroyers under under Captain Jesse H. Carter proceed along the coast from Milne Bay to Finschhafen and conduct a shore bombardment of Finschhafen all return to Milne Bay. Lost is TBF Avenger 06240 pilot Ensign Clarence L. Esterl (survived, 2 MIA).

USS Pike (SS-173) damages Japanese army cargo ship Toun Maru, 21°22'N, 137°50'E.

USS Plunger (SS-179) sinks Japanese merchant fishery mother ship Ryokai Maru, 42°40'N, 139°48'E.

USS Swordfish (SS-193) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Nishiyama Maru off Palau, 02°53'N, 136°21'E .

USS Tullibee (SS-284) sinks Japanese transport Kaisho Maru, 10°09'N, 147°25'E survives depth-charge attack by Ikazuchi.