November 23, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

TUESDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 1943

Burma: In northern Burma, Japanese overrun CP of 112th Regt, Ch 38th Div.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Seventh Air Force): Six B-24's from Motulalo bomb Emidj, Jabor, and Jaluit. Lost is B-24J 42-73022 (rescued).

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 13 B-25's, 24 P-40's, and 7 P-51's pound the Yoyang railroad yards and warehouse area; 8 other P-40's, on armed reconnaissance over the Hanshow area, strafe barges, boats, supplies, and cavalry forces.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Major General Hubert R. Harmon, USAAF, assumes duties as Deputy Commander for Air in the South Pacific Area (SOPAC). Colonel Earl W. Barnes assumes command of the XIII Fighter Command.

Chabai is attacked by 23 B-25's of the 42nd BG (twelve from 75th BS and four from 70th BS) dropping parafrag bombs and strafing, meeting intense anti-aircraft fire that damaged three planes including B-25C Mitchell 42-32255 pilot F/O Richard Schaffner (POW/MIA) crashed into Matchin Bay. Also participating are six RNZAF Venturas, and 24 USN F4Us; 2 B-24s bomb the same targets later in the day; Nineteen B-24s hit Bonis Airfield and Buka Airfield; Four B-25's on a shipping sweep bomb and strafe villages along the coast between Mabiri and Luluai.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): B-25's and A-20's hit villages around Finschhafen. B-24's attack a convoy near Halmahera in the Moluccas and sink 1 vessel. Two new units arrive at Brisbane from the US: 20th Combat Mapping Squadron (20th CMS), 4th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance), with F-7's. They will fly their first mission on April 5, 1944. The 310th Fighter Squadron (310th FS), 58th Fighter Group (58th FG) arrives with P-47s. They will fly their first mission on February 24, 1944.

Royal Netherlands Navy: Commissioned is Hr. Ms. Zwaardvisch as the first of the Zwaardvisch-class submarine in the Royal Netherlands Navy.

U.S. Army: On Makin, at 10:30am organized resistance on Makin Island (Butaritari) when advance elements of 3d Bn, 165th Inf, reach the tip of island. Re-embarkation of assault forces begins.

USMC: Shortly after 1:00pm, 3d Battalion, 6th Marines, attacking through the 1st Battalion, reaches the end of Tarawa (Betio). At 1:30pm, General Julian Smith reports the end of organized enemy resistance on the island. 8th Marines, less 1st Bn, move to Bairiki. 2d Bn, 6th Marines, moves from Bairiki to Betio and is given task of securing the rest of Tarawa Atoll. 3d Bn, 10th Marines, moves to village of Eita, where 3d Platoon of Co D, 2d Tank Bn, is attached to it.

At noon, the 1st Parachute Battalion, commanded by Major Richard Fagan land at Yellow Beach 1 (Yellow 1) north of Cape Torokina on Bougainville and are attached to the 2d Raider Regiment (then in the Corps Reserve Area), being thus designated part of the Corps Reserve.

3rd Marine Division, strongly opposed in Piva forks area begins regrouping on Bougainville. 1st Mar Para Bn arrives as reinforcements.