December 16, 1943
Today in World War II Pacific History
Day by day chronology
THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 1943
CHINA (Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 9 B-25's and 11 P-40's hit the NW part
of Owchihkow; four B-25's on sweeps over the South China Sea damage freighter south of
Nampang, bomb Tunguan docks, and shoot down 1 bomber; 15 P-40's on armed reconnaissance
strafe Pailochi Airfield; 11 others strafe boats in channels N of Nanhsien;
6 P-38's strafe a troop train near Changanyi and attack 25 sampans (destroying
most of them) on the Yangtze River just above Huangtang Lake.
SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Thirteenth Air Force): Fourteen B-24's bomb Monoitu. Smaller flights of B-24's bomb Poporang and Sohano and dispersal areas at Bonis Airfield. 5 B-25's,
with fighter cover, hit Sankau. RNZAF Ventura's attack targets on Green plus Mawareka, Marveiropa, and Mamaregu areas. Fighter aircraft support USN
dive bomber strikes on Sohano and gun positions at Bonis and afterwards strafe
targets of opportunity at several points on Bougainville. The 67th Fighter
Squadron, 347th Fighter Group, which has been operating from New Georgia with P-39's since Oct 43, returns to Woodlark.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force): Lost is B-24D Liberator 42-41043 pilot 1st Lt James J. Harris Jr. (MIA) on a reconnaissance mission over Gasmata. B-24's hit Cape
Gloucester Airfield. B-25's hit Sio and Kelana
Harbor and P-40's hit Timoeka. Headquarters, 348th Fighter Group transfers from 7 Mile Drome to Finschhafen. The 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter
Group, transfers from Dobodura to Gusap with P-47's. B-24 sinks small Japanese cargo vessel No. 6 Heiei Maru 150 miles northeast of Wewak.
JAAF: Six Ki-49 Helens from 9th Sentai took off on a bombing mission against Arawe but are intercepted over Cape Gloucester. Five are shot down, the last Ki-49 Helen 3297 (crew survived) force lands at Cape Gloucester Airfield.
USMC: SBDs from VMSB-236 strike Sohano Island and Bonis Airfield. Returning from the mission, lost in an aerial collision is SBD-5 Dauntless pilot 1st Lt. W. A. Monfort (rescued, gunner MIA) and SBD Dauntless 35968 pilot 1st Lt. Richard C. Oughton (rescued, gunner MIA). Ditched is SBD-5 Dauntless pilot Lt. Quinlan (crew rescued).
USN: District patrol craft YP-426 sinks after running aground, 31°59'N, 80°48'W.
USS Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Ginyo Maru southwest of the Ryukyus, 22°18'N, 119°52'E.
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