December 6, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology

MONDAY, 6 DECEMBER 1943

U.S. On the basis of the estimate by Admiral Mountbatten's to CCS that no major amphibious operations can be undertaken if Operation Buccaneer is canceled, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt informs Chiang Kai-shek that there can be no amphibious operation simultaneously with Operation Tarzan the British plan for operations by forces based in India against the northern part of Japanese-occupied Burma. Inquires whether Chiang will go ahead under the circumstances or wait until November 1944, when a major amphibious assault might be undertaken.

ATC: Force landed is P-39Q 44-2485 pilot Lt. Delos R. Carpenter (survived).

CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, Changte is pounded throughout the day by 30+ B-25's and numerous fighters; other fighters strafe targets of opportunity in the railway yard at Hsipaw and damage a train at Hopong.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Six B-25's bomb the Monoitu Mission area, and twenty-four B-25s with fighter support pound Tarlena village; P-40's carry out a strafing strike in the Arawa Bay area near Kieta; P-38's strafe the west coast of Buka; fighter patrols strafe the Chabai, Koromira, and Monoitu areas; the Kieta supply area is bombed by a B-24 on armed reconnaissance. Lost is F-5A Lightning 42-12972 pilot 2nd Lt. James G. Reed (MIA)

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): Nearly 100 B-24's and B-25's hit the Cape Gloucester and Borgen Bay areas; P-40's strafe Cape Hoskins. A-20's and B-25's attack villages and supply dumps around Finschhafen.

USN: Allied personnel inspect abandoned Japanese equipment at Vila Airfield on Kolombangara Island.

USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) laid down as as a John C. Butler-class Destroyer Escort.

USS Liddle (DE-206) commissioned at the Charleston Navy Yard in the U.S. Navy (USN).