November 8, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 1943

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): 73rd Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, transfers from Mokuleia Field to Bellows Field with P-47's.

CBI: Gen Stilwell directs Col Thomas S. Arms, of Y-Force Infantry Training Center, to activate Zebra Force Infantry Training Center at Kweilin.

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): During the night of November 8-9, 1943, five B-24's lay mines in the Rangoon River.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Two B-25's bomb the Kiungshan Airfield, scoring direct hits on two hangars; six P-40s attack Hsiangyangchiao bridge, causing little damage.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Twenty-two B-24's bomb Bonis Airfield; Six B-25's hit targets of opportunity at the month of the Laruma River and northwest of Torokina while six others bomb Kieta.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-24s on armed reconnaissance bomb Garove and hit Kaimana. Lost is P-38H 42-66593 pilot 1st Lt. Paul Smith (MIA) and P-38H pilot Durkin (rescued).

IJN: Japanese submarine I-404 is laid down at Kure Naval Arsenal in Kure.

USMC: Battle of Koromokina Lagoon ends after a full-scale attack by the 1st Battalion, 21st Marines, after extremely effective preparatory fire, attacks and eliminates subdued remnants of the Japanese counter-landing force and is a U.S. victory with heavy Japanese losses. Lt. General Alexander A. Vandegrift (CG I MAC, pending arrival of Major General Roy S. Geiger) reaches Bougainville and takes command of operations on the island and in the Treasury Islands. The 3d Marine Brigade was deactivated. 2d Defense Battalion, assigned to V Amphibious Corps, departs Pago Pago in American Samoa.

U.S. Army: Advance elements of 37th Div, RCT 148, arrives on western Bougainville to defend the left flank of the beachhead, attached to 3d Marine Division.

USN: Japanese dive bombers strike U.S. ships off Cape Torokina on Bougainville. They damage light cruiser USS Birmingham (CL-62), 06°00'S, 154°00'E, and attack transports USS Fuller (APA-7) and USS President Jackson (APA-18), 06°15'S, 155°05'E.

Destroyers USS Anthony (DD-515) and USS Hudson (DD-475) accidentally engage motor torpedo boats PT-163, PT-169, and PT-170;. Fortunately, neither side suffers any damage in the mistaken encounter.

USS Bluefish (SS-222) sinks Japanese army tanker Kyokuei Maru, 17°00'N, 116°19'E. Although Bluefish claims to destroy five more ships, none are damaged; escort vessel Tsushima counterattacks unsuccessfully.

USS Rasher (SS-269) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Tango Maru, 00°25'N, 119°45'E, and escapes attacks by auxiliary submarine chaser Cha-41.