November 29, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 1943

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): Two B-25's hit Amoy Airfield and Amoy , and warehouse section at Swatow, two bomb the power station and nearby targets of opportunity at Amoy, and two attack barges in nearby coastal areas; 24 P-40's drop food and ammunition to Chinese troops at Changte, strafe a camp in the Hsutu Lake area, damage a vessel in Tien-hsin Lake and attack numerous small craft in channels between Hsutu and Tungting Lakes and between Tsowshih and Hofuh.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Eighteen B-25s with fighter cover, strike Tinputs Harbor and targets of opportunity in the area from Numa Numa to Kieta. Lost is B-25C 42-64776 pilot 1st Lt. Edward P Ernest (MIA). 21 B-24's pound Kieta; P-39's join USN dive bombers in a strike on the Mosigetta warehouse area while a fighter patrol attacks Gazelle Harbor and gun positions south of Torokina Plantation.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 35 B-25's and B-26's bomb Cape Gloucester. Six B-24's bomb a barracks at Manokwari.

Australian Army: Pursuing enemy northward along Huon Peninsula coast, Australians seize Bonga, former enemy supply base, and Gusika and press toward Wareo.

USMC: At 3:00am, 1st Marine Parachute Battalion under the command of Major Richard Fagan embarked aboard two LCM and LCVPs for for a landing at Koiari bordering Empress Augusta Bay on Bougainville. At 4:00am they land approximately 3000 yards northwest of Koiari near a Japanese force and supply dump. By dawn when the Japanese ashore realized Americans had landed, the Japanese opened fire with machine guns and 90mm mortars and launched a counter attack that was repulsed. By 8:00am, the Marines realized they were unable to hold the position and Major Fagen requested his unit be evacuated. Two rescue attempts were made but were repulsed by heavy fire. Meanwhile, 155mm artillery fire from Torokina was directed at enemy positions. During the day, Allied planes provided close air support including F4U Corsairs. At 6:00pm destroyers USS Fullam (DD-474), USS Lansdowne (DD-486), USS Lardner (DD-487) and an LCI-gunboat arrived to provide naval gunfire support at the flanks of the Marine beachhead then began the evacuation that was completed by 8:40pm and the force returned to Cape Torokina.

On Bougainville, construction begins of Piva North Airfield (Piva Uncle) near the Piva River on Bougainville.

TG 74.2 under the command of Captain Frank R. Walker with two U.S. destroyers and two Australian HMAS Arunta (I30) and HMAS Warramunga (I44) shell Japanese positions at Gasmata.

USS Perkins (DD-377) is sunk in collision with Australian troop ship Duntroon off eastern New Guinea, 09°39'S, 150°04'E.

USS Bonefish (SS-223) sinks Surabaya-bound Japanese army cargo ship Suez Maru off Kangean Island, north of Bali, 06°57'S, 115°42'E. Unbeknown to the submariners, Suez Maru has on board 546 British POWs. Minesweeper W.12 rescues survivors.

USS Paddle (SS-263) attacks Japanese fleet tanker Nippon Maru 19 miles off Brown Island, 11°30'N, 162°15'E.

USS Pargo (SS-264) and Snook (SS-279) continue attacks against Japanese transport convoy northwest of the Marianas; Pargo torpedoes and sinks Manju Maru, 18°36'N, 140°04'E; Snook torpedoes and sinks Shiganoura Maru, 18°38'N, 139°35'E. Destroyer Oite and auxiliary submarine chaser Choan Maru counterattack to no avail.

USS Snapper (SS-185) sinks Japanese transport Kenryu Maru off Hachijo Jima, 33°16'N, 139°35'E.