September 15, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 1943

U.S. T. V. Soong presents U.S President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a plan for reorganization of China theater in such a way as to eliminate Gen Stilwell; subsequently seeks in other ways to have Stilwell recalled.

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 pilot Lt(jg) Robert R. Stalker (MIA), F6F Hellcat 26009 pilot Lt(jg) Alex J. Kostrazonsky (rescued), F4U Corsair 17489 pilot 1st Lt. Arthur R. Boag (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 pilot 1st Lt. Howard G. Eberly (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.

USMC: Major General Charles Barrett relieved Lieutenant General A. A. Vandegrift as Commanding General, I Marine Amphibious Corps.
The 2d Marine Division was attached to V Amphibious Corps for the seizure of Tarawa Atoll. Major General Charles D. Barrett is named CG I Marine Amphibious Corps (I MAC), but his sudden death soon afterwards forces General Vandegrift to resume command of I MAC before operations against the northern Solomon Islands commence.

Australian Army: Australians continue toward Lae from west and east with the 7th Division clearing Edward's Plantation and 9th Division taking Malahang Airfield. General MacArthur orders New Guinea Force to seize Kaiapit and Dumpu with assistance of U.S. planes.

New Zealand Army: The 14th Brigade, New Zealand 3d Division landed at Barakoma to relieve U.S. Army troops there; Major General H. E. Barrowclough of the 3d Division assumed command of all Allied forces on Vella Lavella.

USN: Fleet Air Wing 17 (Commodore Thomas S. Combs) is established in Brisbane for operations in southwestern Pacific area.

USS Saufley (DD-465) sink Japanese submarine RO-101 roughly 100 miles east of San Cristobal at Lat 10°57'S, Long 163°56'E. During the attack, PBY-5 Catalina piloted by Lt W. J. Geritz from VP-23 drops two depth charges. The first charge misses, but the second hits.

USS Haddock (SS-231) sinks Japanese collier Sansei Maru north of Truk, 09°32'N, 150°38'E.