October 28, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 28 OCTOBER 1943

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 7 B-24's bomb Mangshih; 6 P-40's strafe a warehouse and revetments at Yoyang Airfield; 3 B-25's and 7 P-38's hit a barracks at Ft Bayard; and two B-25's on a shipping sweep over the South China Sea damage two freighters near Saint John and sink a junk west of Kwangchow Wan.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): P-40's and P-39's join USN fighters and dive bombers in attacks on Kara Airfield and Ballale Airfield. Almost 200 aircraft are involved in the two strikes. Also, Kara Airfield is also pounded by 19 B-24's. The 67th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, based on Woodlark with P-39's begins operating from Munda.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): P-40's hit Gasmata. P-47's attack barges at Talasea and strafe surrounding area. P-47's also strafe from Sio to Fortification Point.

Lost due to weather are P-39Q 42-19987 pilot 1st Lt Francis J. Pitonyak (MIA), P-39Q 42-20031 pilot 2nd Lt George E. Fenn (MIA) and P-39Q 41-19959 pilot 2nd Lt. William H. Melville (MIA). Also lost is B-24D 42-41217 pilot Lt. Albert A. Turner (survived).

IJN: Patrol craft YP-88 sinks after running aground off Cape Amchitka, Aleutians.

USN: USS Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese fleet oiler Koryu Maru, 12°54'N, 134°06'E.

At 1:00am four APDs escorted by USS Conway DD-507 land roughly 700 U.S. Marines from 2nd Parachute Battalion land at Voza on Choiseul.

USMC: At 1:00am 2d Mar Para Bn under the command of Lt. Col Victor H. Krulak lands at Voza on Choiseul to conduct a diversionary raid and subsequently actively patrols to feign strength or a landing at that location.