September 12, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
SUNDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 1943
ALASKA (Eleventh Air Force): HQ XI Fighter Command transfers from Elmendorf
Field to Adak.
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): The 90th Fighter Squadron,
80th Fighter Group, transfers from Karachi to Jorhat with P-40's. The
squadron will fly it's first combat mission on September 16, 1943.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air
Force): In China, eight P-38's bomb shipping in the Hong Kong area, four P-38s hit Yangtze
River traffic at Chiuchiang, and four P-40's strafe barracks and destroy a locomotive
west of Shihhweiyao.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Fifth Air Force): B-17's and B-24's pound Lae as the Japanese begin a withdrawal in the face of the Australian 9 and 7
Divisions moving in from east and west; the Australian 5 Division occupies Salamaua and surrounding area; the first Allied airplane lands at Salamaua Airfield;
and B-25's strafe between Saidor and Langemak Bay. B-25's hit barges near Cape
Gloucester and A-20's bomb a radio station on Gasmata. Lost on a training flight is B-26 40-1406 near Cape Killerton.
RAAF: Bostons from No. 22 Squadron strike Gasmata. Lost is DB-7B "Spirt of Sport" A28-15 pilot F/L Dawkins (MIA), DB-7B "Indoor Sport" A28-16 pilot FSgt Eric G. T. Riley (MIA) and DB-7B "J is for Jessica" A28-8 pilot Rowell (survived) force landed at Vivigani Airfield. Only DB-7B A28-7 pilot F/O Peter Gunson returned undamaged. The mission was dubbed "Black Sunday" by the Squadron for their heavy losses.
USN: At 6:50pm four F4U Corsairs strafe Kahili Airfield, attacking west to east at dusk. They claim 7 aircraft probably destroyed on the ground. One Betty was seen with wheels down, but could not be attacked. Slight anti-aircraft fire from aifield, intense anti-aircraft fire from destroyer, which was also strafed. All four F4U's returned. Lost are F4U 02338 (MIA) and B-26 "Reluctant Dragon" 40-1406 (survived).
Australian Army: As Aus 9th and 7th Divs push toward Lae from E and W, Aus 5th Div occupy Salamaua Airfield, and Salamaua isthmus. The Japanese begin withdrawing from Lae.
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