October 10, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 10 OCTOBER 1943

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): 7 B-24's pound the Meza railroad bridge in Burma, destroying the 3 spans on the E end and dropping the end of a central span into the river.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 20 B-24's and 18 P-40's pound docks at Haiphong. In China, eight P-40's bomb a match factory and ammunition dump at Tengchung; 8 others hit a supply dump and targets of opportunity in the Lungling area.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 24 B-24's, 50+ P-38's (separated from the formation near Kolombangara) soon after rendevous.  P-40's, and P-39's, and 50+ USN fighters and dive bombers participated, including eight F4U Corsairs from VMF-214 "The Black Sheep" but two aborted due to mechanical failures. The remaining aircraft hit Kahili Airfield and surrounding  areas, hitting runways, a fuel dump, supply area, buildings, the Navy dive bombers hit Malabita Hill gun positions.  The bombing was not accurate with about half the load falling into the water off Bougainville 'killing many small fish'. Jumped by 10-15 Zeros, and fired on by accurate anti-aircraft guns at Kahili and Ballale. Two B-24s are damaged. Lost is B-24D "My Baby Bubb" 42-40210 pilot Captain Charles K. Frampton (MIA).  US planes claim 15 interceptors shot down, but Japanese records show the loss of only two Zeros from 201 Kōkūtai (201 Air Group).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): A-20's, along with RAAF aircraft pound the Sattelberg area. During the night of 10/11 Oct, B-25's hit Saumlakki on Tanimbar HQ 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group arrives at Sydney from the US. The ground echelon of the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron, 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), arrives at Sydney from the US. The squadron is attached to the 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group and will be reassigned to the 6th on 5 Dec 43. The air echelon, with B-24's and F-7's, will remain in the US until 26 Jan 44. The 70th Troop Carrier Squadron, 433d Troop Carrier Group transfers from Port Moresby to Nadzab with C-47's. Ditched is P-47D "Hi Topper" 42-8081 pilot 1st Lt. John S. Lolos (rescued).

USAAF B-24 sinks Japanese army cargo ship No. 5 Hino Maru 20 miles southwest of Buka Passage.

USN: Japanese planes attack three Lambu Lambu based U.S. motor torpedo boats damaging PT-168 and PT-179 north of Vella Lavella.

USS Bonefish (SS-223) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Isuzugawa Maru and merchant transport Teibi Maru off Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, 14°49'N, 110°10'E.

USS Grayback (SS-208) attacks Japanese troopship Hakozaki Maru, 28°41'N, 138°32'E; although the submarine crew believes one of the four torpedoes fired hit the ship, in fact all four miss.

USS Kingfish (SS-234) lays mines off Cape Pepe, Makassar Strait, Celebes.

References
President Map Room Briefing Intelligence Report October 1943, page 3 "Pacific Theater Harmon - The next day [October 10, 1943] Allied bombers and fighters.