October 23, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 23 OCTOBER 1943

CBI: Gen Stilwell, Acting Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, SEAC, has by now decided that he can do little more toward improving the Chinese Army, his basic mission.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): P-40s shoot down a Japanese flying boat 70 miles south of Baker.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): B-25's bomb the Meza, Burma railroad bridge, which is still being repaired following the damaging raid of 10 Oct; damage is done to the approaches.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 11 B-24's and 16 P-38's hit Kahili Airfield and 36 P-40's and P-39's join 60+ US Navy dive bombers and fighters in a strike on Kara Airfield; both Kahili and Kara are attacked again later in the day, the former by six B-24's and 16 USN fighters and the latter by 35 AAF fighters and 42 USN dive bombers. Lost is SBD-3 Dauntless 03359 pilot Lt(jg) Joseph G. Nason (POW). Six B-24's bomb Kakasa on Choiseul.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 40+ B-24's escorted by P-38's, bomb Rapopo Airstrip, destroying about 20 airplanes on the ground; 20 enemy interceptors are claimed shot down. Lost is P-38H 42-66849 pilot 1st Lt. Edward J. Czarnecki (rescued). Nine B-25's hit the Bogadjim area.

U.S. Army: 27th Division issues field order for invasion of the Gilberts.

USN: USS Silversides (SS-236) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Tennan Maru and army cargo ships Johore Maru and Kazan Maru, 02°30'N, 144°45'E (see October 24, 1943).

USAAF B-24 damages Japanese cargo vessel No.1 Kinpo Maru off Greenwich Island at Lat 01°01'N, Long 154°08'E.

U.S. aircraft sink Japanese transport Kyowa Maru northwest of Buka Island.