September 22, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 1943

CBI (Tenth Air Force): In Burma, B-25's attack the Ye-u branch line railroad bridge over the Mu River between Ywataung and Monywa. Negligible damage is done to the target.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Fifth Air Force): After a preparatory naval bombardment, elements of the Australian 9 Division land at the mouth of the Song River north of Finschhafen and push to the south. Overhead, B-25s bomb defenses in the Finschhafen area; almost 90 fighters battle Japanese aircraft attacking the convoy; 38 enemy aircraft are claimed shot down. A-20's and B-25's hit Lae. B-24's and B-25's bomb Gasmata Airfield. B-24 hit Amboina.

IJN: Japanese planes attack the Allied convoy off Finschhafen. Lost is G4M1 Betty pilot Uchibaba.

U.S. Army: On Arundel, the 27th Infantry upon renewing assault, finds the Japanese have withdrawn to Kolombangara. The Japanese are estimated to have lost 600 killed on Arundel.

IJA: The Japanese have decided to abandon the central Solomons and will withdraw northward.

U.S. Army: GHQ issues orders for "Dexterity" the U.S. landing at Cape Gloucester on the western tip of New Britain. The ALAMO Force will conduct an airborne and amphibious assault on Cape Gloucester then neutralize Gasmata, in shore-to-shore operation. D-Day is first set for November 20, 1943 then postponed until December 26, 1943 and the landing will be tasked to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV).

Australian Army: In the early morning after preparatory naval bombardment, 20th Brig Group of 9th Divison lands at Scarlet Beach near the mouth of the Song River six miles north of Finschhafen. With little difficulty, they establish a beachhead and pushes south toward Finschhafen.

USN: Admiral Halsey issues warning order for invasion of N Solomons and directs Adm Wilkinson, who is to head landing forces, to make detailed plans. It is later decided to invade Treasury Is. and Empress Augusta Bay area of Bougainville.

Task Force 76 (TF 76) under the command of Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey lands the 20th Australian Brigade at Scarlet Beach north of Finschhafen.

Coastal transport APc-35, irreparably damaged by grounding en route to Renard Sound, New Georgia, 08°48'S, 157°46'E, is beached and abandoned.

Gunboat Charleston (PG-51) is damaged when accidentally rammed by U.S. merchant ship Sam Jackson, Kuluk Bay, Adak, Alaska.

Submarine Harder (SS-257) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Daishin Maru and cargo ship Kowa Maru, 34°46'N, 140°55'E.

Submarine Hoe (SS-258) attacks Japanese fleet tanker Gen'yo Maru, 10°08'N, 147°01'E.

Submarine Snook (SS-279) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Katsurahama Maru, 39°00'N, 124°20'E, and damages merchant cargo ship Hakutetsu Maru, 39°15'N, 123°30'E.

Submarine Trigger (SS-237) damages Japanese army cargo ship Gyoku Maru, 26°27'N, 122°40'E.

Royal Navy: British destroyer HMS Relentless rescues 34 survivors from two boats from U.S. Liberty ship Cornelia P. Spencer, torpedoed by German submarine U-188 on September 21, 1943. Freighter Sandown Castle rescues 16 men from a third boat on October 6, 1943.

USMC: Two patrols comprising of U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy officers, and New Zealand Army soldiers scout the northern end of Choiseul Island and Choiseul Bay until September 30, 1943.