August 26, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 26 AUGUST 1943

ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): The Eleventh Air Force striking power shrinks rapidly as the the following squadrons are ordered to prepare for departure to the Zone of Interior (ZI): 21st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), on Umnak with B-24's, 36th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 28th Composite Group, on Amchitka with B-24's, 73d Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 28th Composite Group, on Amchitka with B-25's, and 406th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 41st Bombardment Group (Medium), at Elmendorf Field with B-25's.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 15 B-24's, with an escort of 17 fighters,  bomb Kowloon Docks at Hong Kong; 5 Japanese interceptors are shot down. Five B-25's, supported by eleven P-40's, bomb Tien Ho Airfield; in a battle with enemy interceptors one P-40 is lost; the B-25's and P-40's claim five Zekes downed. 449th Fighter Squadron is activated at Kunming assigned to the 51st Fighter Group. The squadron forms at Lingling and begins training with P-38s.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 11 B-25's and 50+ US Navy dive bombers, escorted by fighters,  pound AA positions and barges at Ringa and Webster Coves on New Georgia  and at Nusatuva Island; P-40s strafe two large motor boats and a  100' steam vessel off Ganongga; Fifteen B-24's bomb Papatura Ite and supply areas on Papatura Fa; Fifteen B-24s bomb Kahili Airfield with fighter escort including three P-40s from RNZAF No. 16 Squadron; and P-39's strafe buildings at Gizo and at Kolulavabae Inlet.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): Damaged is B-25D "Butch" 41-30163 pilot 1st Lt William H. Cather (survived) landing at 30 Mile Drome (Rogers).

USMC: Allied general headquarters directed the New Britain assault force to "seize the Cape Gloucester area and neutralize Gasmata... and establish control over Western New Britain to include the general line Talasea-Gasmata, the Vitu Islands and Long Island" as well as to participate "in overseas landing operations to capture Rabaul."