November 6, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 1943

USA: CCS accede to request of Gen Eisenhower for retention of landing craft. 12 U.S. and 56 Br LST's due to depart from Mediterranean are to remain until 15 December. A further extension, until January 15, 1944 is subsequently granted.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): Advanced HQ, Seventh Air Force, is set up on Funafuti to provide a HQ closer to targets in the Gilberts and Marshalls. VII Air Force Service Command and VII Bomber Command also establish forward echelons at Funafuti. Landing fields are being built on Baker, Nukufetau and Nanumea to be used, along with existing fields at Canton and Funafuti as operational bases for attacks on Tarawa and Makin; Mille; Maloelap and Jaluit and Nauru. These operations will mark the assumption of the offensive by the Seventh Air Force and will play a conspicuous role in the invasion and occupation of the Gilberts and Marshalls.

India: Government of India accepts offer of U.S. troops to help operate Bengal Rail Road and Assam Rail Road.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): During the night of November 6-7, a pair of B-24s lay mines in the Rangoon River.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Nine B-25's with USN fighter escort strike Buka Airfield and Buka Harbor. One B-25 bombs Kieta and attacks Tinputs Harbor; seven barges and small vessels are claimed sunk; 24 B-25's with fighter support follow USN dive bombers and fighters in an attack on Kara Airfield; Seventeen B-24's bomb Bonis Airfield.

B-25s hit Japanese shipping west of Buka, sinking submarine chaser Ch-11, auxiliary submarine chaser No. 9 Asahi Maru, and cargo vessel Asayama Maru. Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha-30 and small cargo vessel No. 3 Nissen Maru are sunk in the same general area. U.S. aircraft sink water tanker Chozan Maru west of Buka, Solomons.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): P-40's hit Gasmata. Enemy airplanes attack Nadzab, Dumpu, and Finschhafen but cause no major damage. Lost is B-24D "Miss Deed" 42-72814. The 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) and 82d Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 71st Reconnaissance Group, arrive at Milne Bay from the U.S. with B-25's and P-39's respectively. The squadrons will fly their first missions on 28 Jan 44 and 27 Nov respectively.

IJN: Departing Rabaul, a Japanese force including (close) cover force under the command of Rear Admiral Morikazu Osugi with cruiser Agano, destroyers Wakatsuki, Kazagumo and Urakaze. 2nd Cover Force (Distant/Anti-Ship) under Rear Admiral Tamotsu Takama cruiser Noshiro with destroyers Hayanami, Naganami. Transport group under the command of Captain Kiyoto Kagawa cover unit: destroyers Onami, Makinami and landing unit: Amagiri, Fumizuki, Uzuki and Yunagi with 475 Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) soldiers from the 17th Division, 53rd Infantry Regiment and 54th Infantry Regiment the will conduct a counter-landing on western Bougainville.

USMC: 1st Bn, 21st Marines with other 3d Marine Division elements land at Cape Torokina on western Bougainville and Puruata Island to reinforce 3d Mar Div's beachhead.

USS Haddock (SS-231) attacks Japanese Truk-to-Singapore convoy consisting of fleet tankers Gen'yo Maru and Hoyo Maru and escorting destroyer Yakaze, 08°04'N, 150°04'E. Haddock torpedoes Hoyo Maru at 08°08'N, 149°45'E, and during evasive maneuvers Yakaze is damaged when she accidentally rams Gen'yo Maru. Despite the damage, Yakaze counterattacks Haddock.

USS Scorpion (SS-278) torpedoes fleet tanker Hoyo Maru, 07°54'N, 150°06'E.