November 3, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 3 NOVEMBER 1943

USAAF: Lost in a training flight is B-24J "The Ruptured Duck!" 42-73229 (KIA).

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 21 B-24's, supported by 30 fighters, pound Kowloon Docks in Hong Kong; 4 Japanese fighters are claimed shot down; 9 B-25's and 12 P-40's pound various targets in the Shihshow-Hwajung-Owchihkow area. 8 P-40's bomb Lashio Airfield runways and installations.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Nineteen B-24's attack a convoy about 150 miles southeast of Mussau; the B-24's claim hits on three vessels. Lost is B-24D "Big George" 42-41155 pilot 2nd James R. Wilson (six MIA, four rescued).

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's hit barges between Alexishafen and Bogadjim. Several are hit by intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, B-25G Mitchell 42-64850 pilot F/O Richard Smith (MIA). B-24's fly light strikes against shipping (sinking one vessel) between Talasea and Cape Gloucester, and bomb Boela.

USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese light cruiser Naka (near-miss) and transport (ex-armed merchant cruiser) Kiyozumi Maru off central New Ireland, 02°00'S, 151°30'E; light cruiser Isuzu takes the damaged auxiliary in tow.

USAAF B-24s bomb Japanese ships en route to Rabaul, but score no damage upon their targets, transport (ex-armed merchant cruiser) Gokoku Maru and destroyer Urakaze.

RAAF: Five Bostons from No. 22 Squadron with RAAF Beaufighters and P-40 Kittyhawks strike Palmalmal (Malmal). Lost is A-20C Boston A28-29 pilot WCdr William Edwin Townsend (rescued).

USMC: 3d Mar Div continues to improve beachhead positions around Torokina on Bougainville. At 6:00pm the 3d Marines takes responsibility for left flank (north) and 9th Marines for right flank (south). A patrol from the 3d Raider Bn patrol lands on Torokina Island to search for enemy but finds none. After preparatory bombardment from the 12th Marines and 3d Defense Battalion on Bougainville, a small detachment of the 3d Raider Battalion lands on Torokina Island to search for enemy but finds none, only recent graves.

USN: Northern Attack Force, Task Force 52 (TF 52) completes rehearsal for Operation Galvanic off Hawaii.

After months of arduous salvage efforts, USS Oklahoma (BB-37) is refloated in Pearl Harbor.

PB4Ys sink Japanese stores ship Minato Maru 19 miles off Ocean Island at Lat 00°53'S Long 169°35'E.