September 15, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
WEDNESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 1943
CHINA-BURMA-INDIA CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Six B-25's and
fourteen P-40's attack a cotton mill in the Wuchang area. Five B-24's unescorted attack a cement plant
at Haiphong; 50+ Japanese fighters attack the bombers. Lost is B-24D "Mohawk" 42-40786 (POW/MIA), B-24D "Temptation" 41-24129 (POW/MIA) and B-24D "Daisy Mae" 41-24218 (MIA) the one returning B-24 claims ten fighters downed.
SOUTH PACIFIC (Thirteenth Air Force): B-25's bomb Vila Airfield, Kahili and Kara Airfield. B-24's, with
fighter escort, later pound the runway area of Kahili Airfield; others hit Parapatu Point
on New Georgia. During the night, B-25's hit Kahili Airfield twice and heavy
bombers bomb Buka Airfield and Ballale Airfield. During the day, Ballale Airfield is also hit by
USN dive bombers, supported by AAF, USN and US Marine Corps (USMC) fighters;
a bivouac area, revetments, supply dumps and gun positions are hit; the runway
appears badly damaged by the strikes. Lost are F6F Hellcat 25883 (MIA), F6F Hellcat 26009 (rescued), F4U Corsair 17489 (rescued). HQ 403d Troop Carrier Group arrives on
Espiritu Santo from the US. A detachment of the 6th Night Fighter
Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, that has been operating from Guadalcanal with
P-70's since 28 Feb 43, departs for it's base at Kipapa.
The 372d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), that
has been operating from Carney Field (Bomber 2) with B-24'ssince 5 Aug, returns to it's
base on Espiritu Santo for R&R.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Fifth Air Force): B-24's, with P-38 escort,
bomb airfields in the Wewak area, destroying 10 enemy aircraft on the ground;
14 more are claimed destroyed in air combat. Lost returning is P-38G 42-12709 pilot 2nd Lt. Richard S. Strommen (rescued). B-17's bomb the Lae area lost is B-17F "Listen Here Tojo" 41-24552 (MIA) and B-25's
sink about 15 barges between Alexishafen and Finschhafen, blast an ammunition
and supply dump near Bogadjim, and attack AA positions at Bostrem Bay.
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