August 28, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 28 AUGUST 1943

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): B-25's, P-40's, and US Navy F4U's bomb and strafe barges, buildings, and personnel in the Sigolehe Island to the Barora Ite Island area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 26 B-25's bomb and strafe dumps and shipping in the Hansa Bay area, sinking  a small freighter, a power launch, and 8 barges and luggers. B-25 and P-38 aircraft bomb Japanese installations in Hansa Bay region, sinking fishing vessels Owaru Maru and Seio Maru. Lost is B-25D "Reluctant Dragon" 41-30345 (MIA). Twenty B-17's and A-20's bomb jetties at Lae and Voco Point and hit barges in Samoa Harbor between Lae and Salamaua. Force landed at Redscar is P-47 Thunderbolt.

USMC: F4U Corsairs from VMF-214 took off on a fighter sweep over Kahili Airfield (Buin). En route to the target, the formation experienced bad weather and became separated with only F4U piloted by Lt. Alvin J. Jensen strafing the target and claiming 24 aircraft burned, Japanese records indicate only five were burned. Lost is F4U Corsair 02577 pilot 1st Lt Charles Cobb Lanphier (POW died May 15, 1944).

USMC: Detachment of the 7th Marine Defense Battalion with troops from the 16th Naval Construction Battalion (16th NCB) "Seabees" land on Nanumea in preparation for a move into the Gilbert Islands. The 1st Marine Raider Regiment and the 4th Raider Battalion depart Enogai and the next day return to Guadalcanal.

USN: USS Tarpon (SS-175) damages Japanese stores ship Shinsei Maru at Lat 33°39'N, Long 138°28'E.

Navy PBY aircraft attacks Japanese minelayer Hoko off Buka; although the Catalina crew claims damage, the enemy auxiliary escapes unscathed.