November 21, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

SUNDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 1943

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): The Seventh Air Force resumes operations against the Marshalls, in support of the base-development phase of Operation GALVANIC (the assault on the Gilbert) and in preparation for invasion of the Marshall [Operation FLINTLOCK (operations against Kwajalein and Majuro) and Operation Catchpole operations against Eniwetok and Ujelang. B-24's from Funafuti and Nanumea bomb Nauru.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 29 P-40's strafe 100+ sampans and small boats on Tungting Lake in the Li-Chou-Changte-Ansiang area; 12 P-40's attack 5 vessels, 20 houses, and 100 men at Shihmen and between Shihmen and Li-Chou; 8 others hit troops and small river boats near Tsowshih; 12 P-40's and 4 B-25's pound the town of Tzeli; four other B-25's on shipping sweeps over the South China Sea damage a freighter and blast buildings at Taiping-hsu Airfield. The 76th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, transfers from Hengyang to Kweilin with P-40's; a detachment of the squadron is operating from Suichwan.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): In the Solomons, Brigadier General Nathan F. Twining, USAAF, Commander Air Solomonss (COMAIRSOLS), is succeeded by Major General Ralph J. Mitchell, USMC. A few B-25's on a shipping search strafe Kieta.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-24's bomb Gasmata. A-20's again hit the Finschhafen area; B-25's and B-24's hit shipping and other targets on Aroe and off Manokwari sinking transport Shinwa Maru off Manokwari, 02°24'S, 134°36'E.

Headquarters, 58th Fighter Group transfers from Sydney to Brisbane. The 69th Fighter Squadron and 311th Fighter Squadron arrive at Brisbane from the US with P-47's. They will fly their first missions on February 17, 1944 and February 2, 1944 respectively. Lost is C-47A "Star Duster" 41-18648 pilot 1st Lt. Victor N. Gibson (MIA).

RAAF: Six Beaufighters from No. 31 Squadron took off from Coomalie Creek Airfield on a strike with six B-25s Mitchells from No. 18 (NEI) Squadron against Taberfane and sink Japanese fishing vessel Shinko Maru off Taberfane, 06°11'S, 134°07'E. Lost is Beaufighter A19-145 pilot F/Sgt Henry Harrington Gaunt (MIA). Bostons sink small Japanese cargo vessel Suisan Maru off south coast of New Britain, 06°03'S, 151°14'E.

NEIAF: Six B-25s Mitchells from No. 18 (NEI) with six Beaufighters from No. 31 Squadron strike Taberfane.

USN: Six F4U Corsairs of VF-17 perform midmorning and noon CAP over Empress Augusta Bay then strafe targets of opportunity along the Monoitu-Kahili Trail. Lost is F4U Corsair 17804 (MIA) near Kangu Hill.

USS Nautilus (SS-168) surfaces to land a U.S. Marine reconnaissance company from the 5th Amphibious Corps on the southeast of Abemama.

USS Trigger (SS-237) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Eizan Maru, Yellow Sea, 36°40'N, 125°31'E.