November 20, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SATURDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 1943

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25's hit warehouses and barracks on Nampang. Weather prevents completion of several other scheduled missions.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 50 B-25's and B-26's pound Japanese positions in the Sattelberg area. A-20's hit the Lae area. 18 B-25s of the 345th BG escorted by four squadrons of P-47s attack the Hansa Bay area, no ships were spotted, but several barges sink or damaged and supply dump fires started. Well camouflaged AA batteries fired and damaged two B-25s, one force landed back at Port Moresby, the other ditched B-25D 41-30522 (crew POW / MIA). 50 B-24's bomb Gasmata. HQ, 49th Fighter Group transfers from Dobodura to Gusap. Lost on a night radar search of Wewak is B-24D 42-40886 (MIA).

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Forty-five B-25's, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Ventura's and P-38's attack Bonis Airfield; a few other B-25's strafe coastal villages bordering Empress Augusta Bay. Major General Ralph J. Mitchell relieves Major General Nathan F. Twining as Commander, Aircraft, Solomons (COMAIRSOLS).

USN: Operation Galvanic begins with Navy, Marine, and Army forces landing at Tarawa (Betio) and Makin. The operation is under overall command of Commander Central Pacific Force (Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance). Marines (5th Amphibious Corps) landing on the northern coast of Tarawa (Betio) and face fierce and determined Japanese resistance. Supporting Operation Galvanic, four ships are damaged: battleship USS Mississippi (BB-41) by turret explosion, 03°10'N, 172°58'E; small carrier USS Independence (CVL-22) hit by an aerial torpedo, 01°30'N, 172°40'E; destroyer USS Ringgold (DD-500) by Tarawa shore battery, 01°24'N, 172°58'E, and destroyer USS Dashiell (DD-659) by grounding, 01°00'N, 173°00'E.

USS Harder (SS-257) continues stalking convoy attacked the previous day and sinks Japanese transport Nikko Maru northeast of the Marianas at Lat 23°20'N Long 147°30'E.

PBYs sink Japanese cargo vessel Naples Maru, 03°22'S, 151°45'E. Afterwards, submarine chasers Ch-17 and Ch-18 rescue survivors.

U.S. Naval Base, Cairns, Australia, is established.

USMC: After preliminary naval and air bombardment, the 2d Marine Division (reinforced) landed on the north coast of Tarawa (Betio) at Red Beach 1, Red Beach 2 and Red Beach 3 with the 2d Battalion, 8th Marines, and the 2d and 3d Battalion, 2d Marines in initial assault. The 1st Battalion, 2d Marines, and 3d Battalion, 8th Marines, landed in reserve. A beachhead was established against fierce and determined Japanese resistance.