September 25, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 1943

Alaska: Lost is B-17E 42-30681 (crew rescued).

CBI (Tenth Air Force): The 436th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 7th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Bishnupur to Panagarh with B-24s.

SOUTH PACIFIC (Thirteenth Air Force): B-25's join USN TBF's and SBD's in pounding gun positions in the areas around Vila Airfield and Disappointment Cove on Kolombangara Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Fifth Air Force): Nearly 40 B-17s, B-24s, and B-25s bomb installations and supply lines from Bogadjim to villages on the Ramu River and Markham River; A-20s and RAAF airplanes pound positions near Finschhafen as the Australian 9 Division, having crossed the Buni River the previous day, pushes south toward Finschhafen. B-25s bomb and strafe AA positions at Rein Bay. The 66th Troop Carrier Squadron, 54th Troop Carrier Wing transfers from Port Moresby to Nadzab with C-47s.

U.S. Army: 162nd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division "The Jungleers", having successfully completed its mission departs New Guinea for Australia.

USMC: I Marine Amphibious Corps Forward Staging Area, Vella Lavella lands on the east coast at Junio River and Ruravai Beach, and to the south on Barakoma and established a Marine advance staging point. They were replaced by the Vella Lavella Advance Base Command on October 8, 1943.

Australian Army: 20th Brig, Aus 9th Div, continues to advance towards Finschhafen.

USN: USS LST-167 is damaged by dive bomber off Vella Lavella 07°45'S, 156°30'E.

Submarine USS Bluefish (SS-222) damages Japanese merchant cargo ship Akashi Maru, 06°23'S, 118°55'E, and escapes counterattack by escorting auxiliary minesweeper Wa 4 (see 29 September 1943).

Submarines USS Bowfin (SS-287), USS Billfish (SS-286), and USS Bonefish (SS-223) attack Japanese convoy; USS Bowfin (SS-287) sinks tanker Kirishima Maru 220 nautical miles north of Nha Trang, French Indochina, 09°50'N, 112°03'E. None of the other attacks prove successful, and the enemy ships continue to Manila.