November 25, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 1943

BURMA-INDIA (Tenth Air Force): AAF and RAF begin series of coordinated strikes against installations in Rangoon area, despite unfavorable weather conditions. B-24s from 308th Bombardment Group (Heavy), borrowed from the 14th Air Force (14th AF), are unable to bomb Rangoon because of bad weather, but B-25's, covered by P-51's, manage to hit Mingaladon Airfield, damaging the field and claiming two airplanes destroyed. Japanese fighters intercept and in the ensuing battle the B-25's and P-51's claim 2 shot down; 2 P-51's are lost including P-51B pilot Melton.

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): 14 B-25's and 16 P-38's and P-51's attack Shinchiku Airfield, hitting a parking area, hangars, barracks, and other buildings. 32 enemy aircraft are claimed destroyed in the air and on the ground. This was the first air strike against Formosa (Taiwan). Sixteen P-40's on armed reconnaissance over the Hanshow-Chanpte area sink 2 60-ft (18.3 m) boats and 15 sampans and strafe many small supply and troop carrying boats. The 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group transfers from Hengyang to Chengkung with P-40's. A detachment begins operating from Tsuyung, China.

7th AF: B-24s bomb Taroa and damage guardboat Takeura Maru.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): P-39's strafe Bogadjim Road. The 25th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron and 26th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, transfer from Sydney to Brisbane with F-5's. They will fly their first mission on 5 Feb and 10 Feb 44 respectively.

RAAF: After attacking Japanese barges off New Britain, lost is Beaufighter A19-139 (MIA) pilot F/O Percy John Coates.

Australian Army: 9th Division captures Sattelburg.

USMC: After scouting about half way up E side of atoll, Co D of 2d Tank Bn is recalled to village of Eita to prepare to reconnoiter other Atolls. 2d Bn, 6th Marines, continues uneventful trek up Tarawa Atoll. The Apamama Occupation Force, based on 3d Bn, 6th Marines, is en route to Apamama Atoll. The 1st and 3d Platoons, V Amphibious Corps Reconnaissance Company, reported no opposition on Otto.

In the early morning hours, during the Battle of Cape St. George five U.S. Navy destroyers of under the command of Captain Arleigh A. Burke that intercept five Japanese destroyers under the command of Captain Kagawa Kiyoto bound for Buka with reinforcements off Cape St. George on the southeastern tip of New Ireland. USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570), USS Claxton (DD-571), and USS Dyson (DD-572) sink Onami with torpedoes and Yugiri with gunfire; the same three destroyers, joined by USS Spence (DD-512) and USS Converse (DD-509), sink Makinami with torpedoes and gunfire and damage Uzuki. The U.S. destroyers suffer no damage and the surviving Japanese destroyers turn back. This concludes series of night naval engagements of the Solomon campaign.

USS Radford (DD-446) sinks Japanese submarine I-19 north of Gilberts, 03°10'N, 171°55'E.

USS Albacore (SS-218) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Kenzan Maru, 00°46'N, 144°50'E.

USS Searaven (SS-196) sinks Japanese fleet tanker Toa Maru north of Ponape, 08°22'N, 158°00'W.

IJN: Japanese submarine RO-100 is sunk by a sea mine two miles west of Omai Island, outside north channel to Buin.