MONDAY, 1 NOVEMBER 1943
BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): During November, a detachment of the 71st Liaison
Squadron, US Army Forces, CBI, based at Ledo is sent to Kunming with L-4's and L-5's. During Nov, the detachment of the 530th Fighter-Bomber
Squadron, 311th Fighter-Bomber Group, at Kurmitola with A-36's returns
to it's base at Dinjan.
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 6 B-25's and 9 P-40's bomb the Yoyang, China railroad
yards. During November, the 75th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group transfers from Kweilin to Hengyang with P-40's.
SOUTH PACIFIC (Thirteenth Air Force): U.S. Marines land at Cape Torokina on western Bougainville. This operation is aimed at eliminating the last Japanese strongholds southeast of Rabaul. Allied fighters covering the operations shoot down 20+ Japanese aircraft. Naval gunfire accounts
for several more. 21 B-24's bomb Kahili Airfield and Kara Airfield is attacked by 19 B-24's,
30+ P-40's and P-39's, and 70+ US Navy (USN) fighters and dive bombers. P-38's
on sweep over waters NW of the Solomons claim 7 Zekes shot down. B-25's strafe
barges and wharf area at Faisi. During the night of 1/2 Nov, two radar snooper
B-24's attack a convoy west of Cape Saint George. The 64th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group transfers
from Espiritu Santo to Henderson Field with C-47's.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): In the Celebes,
11 B-24's bomb Maniang and nearby Pombelaa. A lone B-24 scores hit on ship
off Kavieng. Crashed on take off is B-24D 42-40924 pilot 1st Lt. Robert J. Schuessler (KIA).
USN: Third Amphibious Force, Task Force 31 (TF 31) under the command of Rear Admiral Theodore S. Wilkinson enters Empress Augusta Bay to land the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps (1st MAC) under the command of Lieutenant General Alexander A. Vandegrift at Cape Torokina on western Bougainville. The amphibious assault is covered by TBF aircraft and destroyer gunfire. During Japanese retaliatory air strikes, destroyer USS Wadsworth (DD-516) is damaged by near-miss of bomb.
As part of "Operation Shoestring 2", Task Force 38 (TF 38) under the command of Rear Admiral Frederick Sherman with carrier planes from USS Saratoga (CV-3) and USS Princeton (CVL-23) strike Buka Airfield and Bonis Airfield to cover the landings at Torokina. The strike consists of 18 fighters, 15 SBD, 11 TBFs. The second strike hase 14 fighters, 21 SBD, 11 TBFs that attack Buka. In the two days of strikes, a total of 11 planes are lost to all causes and they claim to destroy an estimated 30 planes and several small ships. Lost are: F6F Hellcat 66021, TBF Avenger 24422, F6F Hellcat 08884, F6F Hellcat 25814 (rescued) F6F Hellcat 25930 (rescued), F6F Hellcat 26014 (rescued), SBD Dauntless 10923 (rescued). Lost is F4U Corsair 17661 pilot Lt(jg) John H. Keith (MIA).
Task Force 39 (TF 39) crusiers and destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill conducts a shore bombardment of Buka and Bonis, firing 2,700 rounds of 5" and 6" shells at Buka Airfield and Bonis Airfield by cruisers USS Montpelier (CL-57), USS Cleveland (CL-55), USS Denver (CL-58), USS Columbia (CL-56) and eight destroyers, then continues southward to bombard bombard Ballale Island and Shortland Island. Japanese return fire damages destroyer USS Dyson (DD-572).
Destroyer USS Fullam (DD-474) is damaged by grounding at Lat 06°25'S, Long 154°53'E.
USS Haddock (SS-231) attacks Japanese cable-layer Tateishi and trawler Kitagami Maru off Rokutei Island, 09°02'N, 150°43'E. Although Haddock claims damage to both ships, neither is actually damaged.
U.S. aircraft sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha-13 west of Shortland Island at Lat 07°00'S Long 155°30'E.
USMC: "Operation Cherryblossom" the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps under the command of Lt. General Alexander A. Vandegrift lands at Cape Torokina on western Bougainville. After preparatory naval bombardment and strikes by planes including Marine aircraft from Munda Airfield, the 3d Marine Division, reinforced lands with the 3d Marines and 9th Marines and the 2d Raider Regiment. Facing heavy opposition, the division front lines were extended inland about 600 yards to the Laruma River and about 1,000 yards in front of Cape Torokina. Meanwhile, the 3d Raider Battalion with one reinforced company lands on Puruata Island and established a perimeter about 125 yards inland.
