December 2, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

THURSDAY, 2 DECEMBER 1943

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 18 Japanese bombers and 30 Zekes attack Suichwan Airfield; 9 P-40's intercept, shooting down 1 Japanese airplane; 2 P-40's are lost; 6 P-40's on armed reconnaissance bomb villages between Sha Nyao and Chiao Tou Chieh; 16 others bomb Japanese positions northeast of Changte.

Japanese cargo vessel Koki Maru is sunk by mine off Macao, laid by B-24 on November 16, 1943.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): 20+ B-25's hit Malai and attack positions on the Porror River and Rigu Mission at Kieta; 20+ B-24s bomb Korovo; fighter patrols strafe Chabai area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): 50+ B-25's pound the Borgen Bay area; 20 B-25's and B-26's hit enemy forces in the Finschhafen area; and the Sio area is bombed by two B-24's. B-24s hit Wewak; among the heavy damage inflicted, small cargo vessel No.16 Yoshitomo Maru is sunk. B-24 damages Japanese cargo ship Shinyu Maru off New Hanover.

USN: Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) lands ammunition and stores, and evacuates certain people from Mindanao.

RAAF: Beaufighters damage Japanese paddle steamer Assam in Irrawaddy River.

Placed into service is PT-486.