November 10, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

WEDNESDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 1943

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): The 27th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group (Heavy), transfers from Mokuleia Field to Nanumea with B-24's. They will fly their first mission on 14 Nov. The 392d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 30th Bombardment Group transfers from Barking Sands to Canton with B-24's. They will fly their first mission on 22 Nov.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, fighters on armed reconnaissance sink 3 large motor boats in the Yoyang-Sinti area and damage or sink 15 sampans and a barge in the Hwajung-Shasi vicinity.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Twenty plus B-25's carry out strikes on Kara Airfield and Ballale Airfield and attack shipping between Suhane and Tarlena. The 69th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 42nd Bombardment Group (Medium), transfers from Plaine Des Gaiacs to Renard with B-25's.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-24s bomb Lakunai Airfield, hit a new landing ground on Duke of York Airfield, and bomb Soerabaja. B-25's thoroughly pound Alexishafen Airfield. Lost is B-24D Liberator 42-41210 pilot F/O Halbert V. Miller (MIA).

USN: At 8:10am at 55 SBDs and 34 TBFs strike Buka-Bonis with excellent bombing results. The SBDs armed with 1,000 pound bombs with instantaneous fused bombs and the TBFs armed with 2,000 pound bombs with 1/10 delay bombs. Photos after the strike show seven bomb craters on the Buka runway and ten on the Bonis runway An SBD bomb hit a possible ammo dump causing large explosion and fire at the southwest end of the Buka runway. Other fires were started at both fields. A total of at least 38 hits by SBDs were made on or near AA positions in the area which appreciately lessened the volume of gun fire. A direct hit was made among a group of buildings located at the south center of the Bonis runway. AA was described as of moderate intensity and light medium and heavy caliber with very intense heavy AA from the north tip of Sohana Island. Escort of 54 fighters had no contacts nor sightings of enemy aircraft. Lost is SBD-5 Dauntless 35931 pilot Lt. Francis B. McIntyre (MIA) near Buka Airfield.

USMC: Lost is SBD Dauntless 35946 pilot 1st Lt Robert G. Phillips on Espiritu Santo.