November 19, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

FRIDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 1943

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): 31 B-24's from Ellice bases hit Makin and Tarawa. Lost is B-24D "Raunchy" 42-72980.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, B-25's on shipping sweeps in the South China Sea strafe two vessels off Hong Kong, score damaging hits on two vessels at Kiungshan, damage a freighter off Tsao Tao, and leave a gunboat and freighter sinking east of Swatow; warehouses and wharves at Swatow also are hit.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Ten B-25's bomb the Matchin Bay area and Ballale Airfield.

USN: Crashed is PBY-5 Catalina 08388 pilot Lt. Mayo M. Mooney (MIA) crashed off Malaita.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): Nearly 30 B-25's and B 26's bomb positions in the Sattelberg area; A-20's hit the Finschhafen area. B-25's attack Kentengi Anchorage in the Bismarck Archipelago. Headquarters, 58th Fighter Group arrives in Sydney from the US. The 25th Liaison Squadron, Fifth Air Force, arrives at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia from the US with L-5's. The 25th and 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadrons, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, arrive at Sydney from the US with F-5's.

USN: Land and carrier-based aircraft joined in the final bombardment of the Gilberts, Marshalls, and Nauru in preparation for the invasion of the Gilberts.

U.S. Army: The final elements of the 37th Infantry Division arrive on Cape Torokina on western Bougainville.

USMC: Battle of Piva Forks. (First Phase) the 3d Battalion, 3d Marines routed the Japanese positions on the Numa Numa Trail and established a perimeter defense at the junction of the Numa Numa Trail and the Piva River. The 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, occupied the Japanese position between the two forks of the Piva River and seized Cibik Ridge on November 20 ,1943, a small forward ridge dominating the East-West Trail and the Piva Forks area from which the entire Empress Augusta Bay area can be observed.

Submarine chaser SC-1067 founders and sinks off Attu.

PT-147 damaged by grounding off eastern New Guinea is scuttled her crew at Lat 05°55'S Long 147°20'E.

USS Harder (SS-257) attacks Japanese convoy escorted by escort vessel Fukue and destroyer Yuzuki, sinking transports Hokko Maru and Udo Maru, 22°28'N, 147°22'E (see November 20, 1943).

USS Nautilus (SS-168) was damaged by friendly fire from light cruiser USS Santa Fe (CL-60) and destroyer USS Ringgold (DD-500) off Tarawa at Lat 01°05'N Long 173°03'E. Nautilus remains on patrol until she accomplishes her mission supporting the landings.

USS Sculpin (SS-191) heavily damaged by Japanese destroyer Yamagumo about 154 miles north of Truk, Carolines, 00°00'N, 152°50'E, is scuttled. Captain John P. Cromwell, the embarked submarine squadron commander in Sculpin, familiar with secret details of upcoming operations, decides to go down with submarine rather than risk capture and interrogation. For his decision to accept certain death, Cromwell earns the Medal of Honor, posthumously.