August 27, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 27 AUGUST 1943

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 5 P-40's strafe a large truck convoy between Sintsiang and Yoyang, destroying 5 trucks and damaging 15 others; 1 P-40 is downed by ground fire; 6 other P-40's hit communication lines between Yoyang and Hankow; targets include 2 small steamboats, a gunboat, several railroad cars, and a water tower.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 10 B-24's Snoopers equipped with radar devices that permit blind bombing, begin operations from Carney Field, Guadalcanal. Twelve B-25's, eight P-40s, and eight US Navy F4U's strafe barges and shoreline targets at Kakasa on Choiseul; and P-39's strafe barges and shore targets at Ringa Cove on New Georgia. B-25s bomb Japanese shipping and installations at Choiseul, damaging fishing vessel Kokusei Maru.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-26's attack bridges in the Bogadjim area; and A-20's strafe barges and troops along the Babui River near Lae. B-25's bomb Dili and Cape Chater Airfield. The 67th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group from the US arrives to Port Moresby with C-47's. Lost is C-47A Dakota 42-23698 (MIA). Crashed on take off is B-17E "Topper" 41-2481 (crew survived).

USAAF B-17s and B-24s, escorted by P-38s, bomb Japanese installations in the Hansa Bay area, damaging small cargo vessel No.8 Manryu Maru. USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese shipping off western tip of New Hanover, damaging army cargo ship No.18 Shinsei Maru. U

USMC: The 2d Marine Airdrome Battalion and Seabee units occupied Nukufetau Atoll preparatory to the installation of an airfield and suitable defenses.

U.S. Army: On New Georgia, RCT 172d Infantry, USA, cross Hathorn Sound from New Georgia to Arundel Island and seized artillery positions that had been harassing Munda on New Georgia.

USMC: Marines (2d Airdrome Battalion) and Seabees (16th Construction Battalion) complete occupation of Nukufetau, Ellice Islands.

Tank landing craft LCT-319 sinks after running aground, Kiska, Aleutians.

USS Drum (SS-228) damages Japanese transport Yamagiri Maru, 01°31'S, 148°41'E.

USS Grayling (SS-209) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Meizan Maru in Tablas Strait at Lat 13°35'N, Long 120°45'E.

USS Pollock (SS-180) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Taifuku Maru, 32°28'N, 132°23'E, although minesweeper W.17 arrives on the scene in time to open fire on Pollock, the submarine escapes.

USS Snapper (SS-185) inflicts further damage on the previously damaged Tokai Maru (see January 26, 1943 and May 5, 1943) in Apra Harbor off Guam at Lat 13°31'N, Long 144°37'E.