September 27, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 1943

SOUTH PACIFIC (Thirteenth Air Force): 27 B-24's, 20+ P-40's and P-39's, and several USN fighters pound the Kahili area. P-39's over Choiseul strafe (and explode) 3 barges off Wogai Point, and strafe 2 others off Bambatana, leaving 1 ablaze.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (Fifth Air Force): 117 B-24's and B-25's, escorted by 129 P-38's and P-40's, attack airfields and shipping in the Wewak area including But Airfield; about 40 aircraft are destroyed on the ground and 8 are claimed shot down in combat; the bombers claim 10 ships (totaling about 28,000 tons), 11 luggers, and a launch sunk. Sunk is Taisei Maru. Lost are B-25D 41-30434 pilot 1st Lt. Miles L. Green (MIA) and B-25D 41-30636 pilot 1st Lt. Keith A. McKee (MIA). Finschhafen is bombed twice during the day.

JAAF: Ki-54 Hickory 5541 ditched Lake Towada (Towada-ko).

Major General Charles D. Barrett, Commanding General, I Marine Amphibious Corps, issued instructions to the 3d Marine Division for the invasion of Bougainville.

Marine aircraft landed on Barakoma Airfield on Vella Lavella to begin operations.