World War II in real time

Day 1528 of World War II, November 18th 1943

Eastern Front

Fighting on the eastern front remained heavy west of Kiev as Korosten and Ovruch were captured by the Soviets. To the north, the rail line out of Gomel to the west was cut as the Red Army captured Rechitsa. German forces in Gomel were imperiled by rapid expansion of the Rechitsa salient. Soviet troops forced the Dnieper River near Cherkassy, southeast of Kiev, and take Ovruch, northwest of Kiev. Meanwhile German attacks south of Zhitomir continued to make progress.

Air War over Europe

The Air Battle of Berlin begins, in the first mission, 440 Lancasters and four Mosquitos were dispatched to attack the German capital; 402 aircraft bombed the city. Few German fighters intercepted the force but nine Lancasters were lost, 2.0 per cent of the force. Berlin was completely cloud-covered and both marking and bombing were carried out blindly; Bomber Command could make no assessment of the results. A major diversionary raid by 395 aircraft, 248 Halifaxes, 114 Stirlings and 33 Lancasters, was made to Mannheim and Ludwigshafen; 325 aircraft hit the targets. German fighters successfully engaged the bomber force and 23 aircraft, 12 Halifaxes, nine Stirlings and two Lancasters, were lost, 5.8 per cent of the force. Cloud was present over the target area and much of the bombing was scattered. 21 people were killed, 154 injured and 7,500 bombed out. Many bombs fell outside the city and the local report listed much damage and loss at farms. Mannheim was raided by 395 aircraft - making this Bomber Command's heaviest night of operations so far in the war. This was the last major raid on the much-bombed city of Mannheim for 15 months. Other raids to five cities were made by Mosquitos, eight each bombed the Krupps armaments plant at Essen and the city of Frankfurt-am-Main; six hit Aachen; two attacked Groningen and one bombed Hannover.

Aircraft of the USAAF Ninth Air Force's IX Troop Carrier Command carried paratroops of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division in a rehearsal of cross-channel operations. This was the first of an extended series of training exercises to be conducted prior to the Normandy invasion.

Five USAAF Eighth Air Force VIII Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortresses flew Mission 133 dropping 980,000 leaflets over Paris, Orleans, Chartres, Rennes and Le Mans between 2015 and 2041 hours. During the night of 18/19 November, RAF Bomber Command Wellingtons laid mines off three Bay of Biscay ports: five aircraft laid mines off Brest and four each off Lorient and St. Nazaire. Seven other aircraft dropped leaflets over northern France.

The USAAF Eighth Air Force's VIII Bomber Command flew Mission 132: 78 B-24 Liberators hit Kjeller Airfield 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of Oslo; nine B-24s were lost. Four other aircraft bombed Rygge Airfield 2 miles (3,2 kilometers) east of Rygge. 18 bombers were claimed between fighters from JG 11, JG 5 and NJG 3. Lt. Friedrich Feuchter and Uffz. Reinhold Gullert from 10./JG 11 were both killed.

Whilst escorting combined convoys MKS.30 and SL.139, sloop HMS 'Chanticleer' had her stern blown off by a Zaunkoenig fired by 'U-515'. There were 28 casualties. She was towed to the Azores and paid off, but subsequently recommissioned as 'Lusitania' and served as a base ship at Horta.

The 3000 ton British freighter 'Penolver' stuck a mine off Newfoundland. Within minutes, 14 of her crew were rescued by the US merchantman 'De Lisle', which shortly thereafter struck a mine and was sunk.

Italian Campaign

In Italy, USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium and light bombers of the XII Air Support Command and the RAF attacked a billeting area at Rivisondoli and road, railway and town area west of San Vito Chietino and at Lanciano. Defended points and gun positions along the battleline were also attacked.

Photo: Armoured car of the New Zealand Divisional Cavalry, negotiating wet roads on the way to the forward areas in Italy, November 18, 1943



Battle of the Mediterranean

In Greece, 50 USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses, with P-38 Lightning escort, bombed Eleusis Airfield near Athens; two aircraft wer lost. P-38 Lightnings also escorted USAAF Twelfth Air Force medium and light bombers of the XII Air Support Command and RAF aircraft in an attack on Larissa Airfield, 2 miles (3,2 kilometers) east of the city of Larissa.

In Yugoslavia, USAAF Twelfth Air Force fighter-bombers hit a ship in the Krka River, trains at the Knin marshalling yard and between Knin and Kosovo, the landing ground at Sinj, harbor and vessels at Sibenik. USAAF Fifteenth Air Force P-38 Lightnings escorted transports dropping supplies to partisans.

The 'Empire Dunstan' (Master Norman Ramsay), dispersed from convoy KMS-31, was torpedoed and sunk by 'U-81' southwest of Taranto. Two crew members were lost. The master, 29 crew members, seven gunners and three passengers were picked up by the Norwegian merchant 'Lom' and landed at Taranto.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS McDermut (DD-677) after delivery from Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock, Kearny, New Jersey (USA), on 18 November 1943



Pacific War

MARSHALL ISLANDS

(Seventh Air Force): 19 B-24's from Nanumea bomb Mille Atoll

GILBERT ISLANDS

Two USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24s from the Ellice Islands bomb Tarawa Atoll.

The USN submarine USS Nautilus enters Tarawa lagoon in the first submarine photograph reconnaissance mission. She also obtains last minute information on weather and surf conditions, landing hazards and the results of recent bombardments. At 2159 hour, mistaking her as an enemy, the USN destroyer USS Ringgold (DD-500) fired at Nautilus, sending a 5-inch shell through the conning tower damaging the main induction drain. Diving as soon as the topography permitted, the boat was rigged for depth charges and the damage control party went to work. Within two hours repairs were sufficient to allow Nautilus to continue with her primary mission.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 12 P-40's strafe troops and horses and sink a troop barge at Shihmen; 4 others, in support of Chinese forces, strafe the Tahsai ferry.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NAURU ISLAND

Carrier-based USN carrier force (Task Group 50.4) attack the island in support of the unfolding operations to capture the Gilbert Islands. Nauru Island is a 8 square mile island in the South Pacific Ocean, located about halfway between the Gilbert and Solomon Islands. The island is rich in phosphate deposits and was occupied by the Japanese on 25 August 1942. TG 50.4 is built around the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga with Carrier Air Group Twelve, small aircraft carrier USS Princeton with Light Carrier Air Group Twenty Two and ten destroyers.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

In the Finschhafen area, the Australians send in three more tanks to replace those blocked on the main road; they encounter numerous antitank ditches.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force): Four squadrons of B-24's pound the airfields on Buka and at Kara; 3 B-25's strafe Green Island.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 30+ B-25's and B-26's hit enemy positions in the Sattelberg area; B-24's carry out a light raid on Fak Fak; and P-40's bomb Iworep.

PACIFIC

Submarine Bluefish (SS-222) sinks Japanese destroyer Sanae and damages oiler Ondo 90 miles south of Basilan Island, 05°00'N, 122°00'E. In return Ondo engages the submarine with gunfire.

Submarine Crevalle (SS-291) attacks Japanese landing ship/aircraft transport Akitsu Maru, escorted by torpedo boat Tomodzuru, 15°10'N, 119°40'E; although Crevalle claims destruction of her quarry, Akitsu Maru survives unscathed.

Day 1530 of World War II, November 20th 1943

Eastern Front

A new attack by the Soviets began near Cherkassy as they crossed the Dniepr River. The Red Army achieved a breakthrough near Kremenchug in the Ukraine, and advanced toward Kirovograd.

Italian Campaign

The British 8th Army commenced Operation Encroach toward Rome, Italy. Heavy rains dulled Montgomery's planned attack across the Sangro River to a limited effort. The 36th Brigade was the only unit to cross.

Photo: A 17-pdr anti-tank gun being manhandled into postion in thick mud, 20 November 1943



The USAAF Twelfth Air Force's XII Air Support Command and RAF Desert Air Force fighters carried out uneventful armed reconnaissance; Northwest African Tactical Bomber Force aircraft bombed the Porto Civitanova railway junction, Pedaso, Giulianova, and Loreto.

Battle of the Atlantic

Donitz called off his U-boats, as the combined convoys MKS.30 and SL.139 were protected by 19 warships and a 24-hour air cover: three U-boats have been sunk. German submarine 'U-536' was sunk about 453 nautical miles (839 kilometers) northeast of Lagens Field, Azores Islands, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS 'Nene' (K 270) and the Canadian corvettes HMCS 'Snowberry' (K 166) and 'Calgary' (K 231); 17 of the 55 crewmen survive. 'U-618' shot down a RAF Liberator aircraft (Sqn 53/N). The entire aircrew was lost. 'U-648' shot down a RCAF Sunderland aircraft (Sqn 422/G). The entire aircrew, 11 men, were lost.

Battle of the Mediterranean

With the loss of Leros, British forces began a hasty withdrawal from the exposed Aegean island of Samos. The Germans occupied Samos in the Dodecanese Islands, after the British evacuated. This ended the British campaign. The British have taken a beating and their effort will later be described as quickly improvised with insufficient forces.

Battle of the Baltic Sea

'U-768' was sunk in the Gulf of Danzig after a collision with 'U-745'. 44 survivors (No casualties).

United States

The USAAF activates HQ XX Bomber Command at Smoky Hill AAFld, Kansas. This new command will eventually have operational and administrative control of all B-29 Superfortress units in India.

Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 2 B-25's hit warehouses and barracks on Nampang ; weather prevents completion of several other scheduled missions.

BURMA

In the British Fourteenth Army's XV Corps area, the Indian 7th Division starts across the Mayu Range along two crude trails in preparation for an offensive.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force): On Bougainville 45 B-25's, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Ventura's and P-38's attack Bonis airfield; a few other B-25's strafe coastal villages in the Empress Augusta Bay region.

SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

Major General Ralph J. Mitchell, USMC, relieves Major General Nathan F. Twining, USA, as head of Solomons Air Command. Gen Twining later takes command of the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force in Italy.

On Bougainville, the 3d Marine Division is extending its positions in the vicinity of the Piva River forks against lively opposition. The 37th Infantry Division is unopposed.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, 50 B-25's and B-26's pound Japanese positions in the Sattelberg area. A-20's hit the Lae area. 18 B-25s of the 345th BG escorted by four squadrons of P-47s attack the Hansa Bay area, no ships were spotted, but several barges sink or damaged and supply dump fires started. Well camoflaged AA batteries fired and damaged two B-25s, one force landed back at Port Moresby, the other B-25D 41-30522 ditched crew captured and killed. HQ 49th Fighter Group transfers from Dobodura to Gusap.

BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO

A USN PBY-5 "Black Cat" Catalina of Patrol Squadron VP-101 sinks a cargo ship in Rabaul harbor during the night of 20/21 November. 50 B-24's bomb Gasmata.

GILBERT ISLANDS - BATTLE OF MAKIN

U.S. Army and Marine Corps troops invade Makin and Tarawa Atolls. Air and naval gunfire bombardment precede and closely support assault teams. Aerial supremacy over the Japanese has already been achieved.
At both atolls, landing forces are beset with supply difficulties and communications failures.

Photo: The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Minneapolis (CA-36) bombarding Butaritari Island, Makin Atoll, on 20 November 1943, shortly before U.S. Army forces landed there. The guns firing are from the cruiser's starboard side 5/25 secondary battery. Note the smoke rings. The simultaneous discharge of these guns indicates that they were firing under remote control



Photo: A U.S. Navy Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat fighter makes condensation rings as it awaits the take-off flag aboard USS Yorktown (CV-10), 20 November 1943. The plane is from Fighting Squadron Five (VF-5). Yorktown was then hitting targets in the Marshall Islands to cover the landings in the Gilberts



Photo: FM-1 Wildcat fighters from USS Corregidor (CVE-58) over Butaritari Island, Makin Atoll, during pre-invasion bombardment, 20 November 1943. Photo looks to the east, with flink point in lower center and beach "red" at lower right. Heavy smoke is from oil fires in the vicinity of King's Warf. Nearest plane is piloted by Lieutenant G.V. Knudson, USNR, of VC-41



Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner's Task Force 52's landing force (the 27th Infantry Division's 165th Infantry Regiment reinforced by the 3d Battalion of the 105th Infantry Regiment, tanks of the 193d Tank Battalion, and other supporting units), under Major General Ralph C. Smith, invades Makin. (The 165 Infantry Regiment is the old 69th "Fighting Irish" Regiment of the New York National Guard.) As a preliminary to the main invasion of Butaritari Island, the largest of the Makin group, a special landing detachment sails for Kotabu Island at 0645 hours and secures the island without opposition. The invasion of Butaritari is begun on schedule at 0830 hours, when Boat Landing Teams (BLTs) 1 and 3 of the 165th Infantry start landing on Red Beaches 1 and 2 on the west coast. At 1041 hours, about 10 minutes behind schedule, BLT 2 begins landing on Yellow Beaches, located on the northern (lagoon) shore between On Chong's Wharf and King's Wharf. Both assault forces secure beach heads and with tank support push rapidly forward against light resistance, converging along the West Tank Barrier, where Japanese opposition
is overcome, although a small pocket remains to the northwest. Artillery is emplaced on Ukiangong Point.

Photo: U.S. troops of the 2d Battalion, 165th Infantry, struggle to shore on Yellow Beach on Butaritari (Makin) Island following a naval gunfire bombardment



Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill's USN Task Force 53's landing force (2d Marine Regiment of 2d Marine Division, reinforced by the 2d Battalion of 8th Marine Regiment and supporting units), under Major General Julian C. Smith, USMC, invades Betio Island, at the southwestern tip of the atoll, where an airfield and main Japanese forces are located.

Betio is 2 miles long and less than ½ mile wide The defenders are lead by Rear Admiral Shibasaki Keiji and 4,800 men with 50 artillery pieces and seven light tanks. The terrain ranges from sea level to 9 feet above sea level.

Landings are made with great difficulty and very heavy casualties. Transports arrive south of the assigned area and at 0507 hours come under fire of previously alerted Japanese on Betio. While transports are moving northward out of range of Japanese guns, warships attempt, with some success, to neutralize Japanese positions. Aircraft deliver brief strikes before the forces land. Although H Hour is postponed from 0830 to 0900 hours, the first troops do not reach shore until 0910 hours. Marines land under direct fire, many wading from a partly exposed reef that fringes coast; upon reaching the shore, landing teams become intermingled and disorganized. Landings are made on three adjacent beaches (Red 1, 2, and 3, from west to east) on the northwest coast. The 3d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, the Red assault force, gains a beachhead on the northwest tip of the island but is isolated there. In the center, 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, is pinned down by Japanese fire on Red 2. The 2d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, favored by more protracted naval gunfire preparation, meets less opposition on Red 3 and gains a beachhead extending inland to the airfield. To strengthen their precarious hold on the island, the 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, from regimental reserve, and 3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, from division reserve, are committed. Fortunately, Japanese counterattacks, expected after nightfall, fail to materialize, and meager gains are held. Shortly before the invasion of Betio, a scout-sniper platoon clears Japanese positions from the main pier, partly burning it in the process.

Off Tarawa the aircraft carriers of Task Force 50 cover both landings. Beginning at about 1755 hours, 16 Betty's attack Task Group 50.3 built around the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill and USS Essex and the small aircraft carrier USS Independence. F6F Hellcat pilots of Fighting Squadron VF-18 in USS Bunker Hill, shoot down five bombers and ship's gunners down four but one launches a torpedo that strikes the carrier's starboard quarter seriously damaging the ship; she retires for repairs.

AUSTRALIA

U.S. Naval Base, Cairns, Australia, is established.

PACIFIC

Submarine Harder (SS-257) continues stalking convoy attacked the previous day and sinks Japanese transport Nikko Maru northeast of the Marianas, 23°20'N, 147°30'E.

PBYs sink Japanese cargo vessel Naples Maru, 03°22'S, 151°45'E; submarine chasers Ch 17 and Ch 18 rescue survivors.

Day 1532 of World War II, November 22nd 1943

Air War over Europe

Air Battle of Berlin: Harris' bombing campaign against Berlin continued. RAF Bomber Command dispatched 764 aircraft, 469 Lancasters, 234 Halifaxes, 50 Stirlings and 11 Mosquitos, to bomb Berlin; 670 aircraft bomb. This was the greatest force sent to Berlin so far but it was also the last raid in which Stirlings were sent to Germany. Bad weather again kept most of the German fighters on the ground and the bomber force was able to take a relatively "straight in, straight out" route to the target without suffering undue loss. Twenty six aircraft, Lancasters, ten Halifaxes and five Stirlings, were lost, 3.4 per cent of the force. Berlin was again completely cloud-covered and returning crews could only estimate that the marking and bombing were believed to be accurate, In fact, this was the most effective raid on Berlin of the war. A vast area of destruction stretched from the central districts westwards across the mainly residential areas of Tiergarten and Charlottenburg to the separate suburb city of Spandau. Because of the dry weather conditions, several "firestorm" areas were reported and a German plane next day measured the height of the smoke cloud as 6,000 meters (19,685 feet). It was estimated that 175,000 people were bombed out. 2000 civilians were killed, including 500 who died when an air raid shelter took a direct hit from a 4000lb bomb. Interesting entries among the lists of buildings destroyed or severely damaged were: the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche (the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church), the Charlottenburg Castle, the Berlin Zoo, much of the Unter den Linden, the British, French, Italian and Japanese embassies, the Ministry of Weapons and Munitions, the Waffen SS Administrative College, the barracks of the Imperial Guard at Spandau and, among many industrial premises, five factories of the Siemens electrical group and the Alkett tank works which had recently moved from the Ruhr. In secondary raids, 12 Mosquitos were dispatched to hit three targets: six bombed the city of Leverkusen, four attacked the I.G. Farben chemical plant at Leverkusen and one bombed the city of Hannover.

Photo: A member of the ground crew, illuminated by a lamp shining from the bomb-aimer's position, guides Avro Lancaster B Mark III, JB362 'EA-D', ("D for Donald") of No. 49 Squadron RAF to its dispersal point at Fiskerton, Lincolnshire, after returning from the greatest and most destructive raid mounted on Berlin to date (22/23 November 1943)



RAF Bomber Command sent 14 Wellingtons to lay mines: eight lay mines in the Frisian Islands and four lay mines off Texel Island. During the night of 22/23 November, an RAF Bomber Command bomber dropped leaflets over France.

Whilst undertaking operation Barbara, midget submarine Welman 46 (one of four such craft on the operation) which was commanded by Lt. B Pedersen of the Norwegian Army was spotted making an approach to the Laksevåg floating dock at Bergen and was captured. This was the only instance of operational use of the Welman submarines: Welman 45, 47 and 48 were abandoned by their operators (who were all later recovered to the UK by MTB). Lt. Pedersen made three escapes from a naval PoW camp but his fourth was frustrated by the arrival of the British Army in May 1945. Welman features may have been used in the German Biber miniature submarines.

Italian Campaign

The British bridgehead on the north side of the Sangro River was now 5 miles wide and 2,000 yards deep. Getting supplies across the river due to the rain was a very arduous task and the hold on the bridgehead remained tenuous.

Photo: A Sherman tank makes its way along the main street in Torino Di Sangro, passing mules of the 8th Indian Division, 22 November 1943



Over 100 USAAF Twelfth Air Force XII Air Support Command P-40s, B-25 Mitchells, and RAF Baltimores, attacked strongpoints in the Lanciano-Fossacesia area, concentrating on gun positions. P-40s also hit roads and railways at Fabriano, the towns of Viticuso and Vallerotonda, and as far north as Urbino; A-36 Apaches hit chemical works, harbor and railroad yards at Civitavecchia and bombed the village of San Vittore del Lazio. USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-26 Marauders, escorted by P-38 Lightnings, hit the railroad center at Foligno, scoring numerous hits; others attacked a bridge at Ciciana. During the night, forty three RAF aircraft of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group bombed Ciampino Airfield while one aircraft dropped leaflets over the battlefield.

Minesweeper HMS 'Hebe' was mined off Bari, in an area that had been swept twice the previous day. There were 38 casualties and 72 survivors of whom 38 had received fractures due to being thrown into the air by the explosion.

Egypt

The SEXTANT Conference (Cairo Conference) between U.S. President Franklin D Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston S Churchill and Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek begins in Cairo. Talks last until 26 November and concern Operation OVERLORD (the overall plan for the invasion of western Europe), the possibility of expanding operations in the Mediterranean, and future operations against Japan. It is decided to make an amphibious landing and offensive in Burma (Operation CHAMPION) and to base B-29 Superfortresses in the China-Burma-India Theater (Operation TWILIGHT). They discuss Burma and China plans without making any decisions. They also do not prepare a plan for the upcoming discussions with Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin in Teheran, Iran.

Photo: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chiang Kai-shek, and Winston Churchill at the Cairo Conference, 1943



Brazil

A Brazilian expeditionary force is to be sent to Europe, the Brazilians announced today. At least 60,000 men will cross the Atlantic to assist the Allied fight on European soil. Brazil's air force, though heavily engaged in the defence of Brazil's extensive coastline, will also send a contingent to Europe. Brazil declared war on the Axis powers on 22 August last year, after a series of U-boat attacks on several merchant ships in Brazilian waters.

United States

Photo: A U.S. Navy Brewster SB2A-4 Buccaneer (BuNo 29336) at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), on 22 November 1943



Pacific War

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force): 11 B-24's from Canton bomb Mille Atoll. The B-24's claim 2 interceptors shot down.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): Twelve USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-40s strafe river traffic from Hofuh to Changte, and 16 attack numerous small troop boats on Tungting Lake, west of Changteh.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force): P-40's in a battle with 30-40 fighters over Empress Augusta Bay, claim 5 fighters shot down; P-38's strafe barges and shore targets at Chabai. 20+ B-25's, along with 5 RNZAF Ventura's, 8 P-38' and 8 USN F4U's, attack the airfield on Buka scoring hits on the airstrip and taxiways.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): 22 B-25's and A-20's attack villages around Sattelberg. 100+ B-25's and B-24's bomb Gasmata and Cape Gloucester. Lost are B-24D 42-41075 and B-25G 42-64846. B-24's on armed reconnaissance score hits on freighter near Kavieng and a tanker and barge in the Bismarck Sea. The 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) and 82d Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 71st Reconnaissance Group, transfer from Milne Bay to Dobodura with B-25's and P-39's respectfully. They will fly their first mission on 28 Jan 44 and 27 Nov 43 respectively. The 418th Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command, transfers from Milne Bay to Dobodura with P-38's and P-70's.

MARSHALL ISLAND

Eleven USAAF Seventh Air Force B-24s from the Phoenix Islands bomb Mili Atoll. The B-24 gunners claim two interceptors shot down.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

In Northeast New Guinea, the Australian 9th Division continues to struggle for Sattelberg, the 26th Brigade reaching the southern slopes. The Japanese attack the Australian 2/43rd Battalion, 24th Brigade, 9th Division, north of Scarlet Beach and are wiped out.

GILBERT ISLANDS AND MARSHALL CAMPAIGN

After a preparatory bombardment on Makin Atoll, Boat Landing Team 3 of the 165th Infantry Regiment takes over the attack from Boat Landing Team 2 and drives east on Butaritari Island well beyond the East Tank Barrier, which the Japanese have abandoned. Though the eastern tip of the island remains to be explored, Admiral Richmond K. Turner, commander of the Amphibious Force Pacific Fleet, declares the island captured. Major Gen Ralph Smith, Commanding General 27th Infantry Division, assumes command ashore.

Photo: A U.S. Navy Grumman TBF-1 Avenger of Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6) flies over the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) as she conducts flight operations in the Central Pacific while supporting the Gilberts Operation, 22 November 1943



During the night of 22/23 November, the Japanese are virtually wiped out when they make an unsuccessful counterattack. Steps are taken to cut off the Japanese escape from Butaritari: elements of Company A, Boat Landing Team 1, make a waterborne move to the narrow neck of the island to intercept the Japanese; a special detail moves to Kuma Island to halt the Japanese withdrawal there.

Photo: Japanese pillboxes on Tarawa



The Japanese on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, undergo heavy air, naval, and artillery bombardment as the battle for the island continues. The Japanese are brought under cross fire as artillery is emplaced on Bairiki Island. Passing through the 3rd Battalion of the 2d Marine Regiment, the 1st Battalion of the 6th Marine Regiment drives east along the south coast on a narrow front, making contact with the 2d Marine Regiment force and continuing advance to the eastern end of the airfield. The 2d Battalion of the 8th Marine Regiment, with elements of the 3d Battalion attached, presses east along the northern coast to the eastern end of the airfield. The 1st Battalion of the 8th Marine Regiment, attached to the 2d Marine Regiment, attacks a strongpoint between Red Beaches 2 and 1 and succeeds in containing it.

Photo: Unloading supplies on seaplane ramp at Tarawa



Thus by the end of the day the Japanese are compressed into the eastern part of Betio beyond the airfield and retains a pocket between Red Beaches 1 and 2. The 3d Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, lands on Green Beach and moves forward along the south coast behind the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. Major General Julian C. Smith, USMC, establishes a command post ashore.

During the night of 22/23 November, Japanese counterattacks are repelled by the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.

During the afternoon on Abemama Island, the 78 man scouting party, composed of the V Amphibious Corps Reconnaissance Company and an Australian scout call on the USN submarine USS Nautilus for gunfire support against the minute, 25-man, but game Japanese garrison.

Rather than sacrifice marines in bringing the Japanese out of their bunkers, naval gunfire is requested. The gunfire proves accurate, killing 14; the remainder commit suicide. Thus, by the time the main assault force arrived on the 26 November, Abemama had been secured and preparations to turn it into an air base for the Marshalls campaign had begun.

PACIFIC

USN destroyer USS Frazier is damaged when she intentionally rams Japanese submarine I-35. Frazier and destroyer USS Meade depth charge the sub forcing her to the surface and then engage her with gunfire. Finally, Frazier rams the sub sinking her about 10 nautical miles west of Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, in position 01.22N, 172.47E.

USAAF Fifth Air Force B-24 Liberators on armed reconnaissance sink a Japanese cargo ship about 129 nautical miles NW of Kavieng, New Ireland Island, Bismarck Archipelago, in position 01.00S, 149.20E.

Submarine Drum (SS-228) is damaged by depth charges north of New Guinea, 02°53'N, 141°36'E, and is forced to terminate her patrol.

Submarine Seahorse (SS-304) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Taish Maru, 33°41'N, 128°35'E.

Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) sinks Japanese army cargo ships Kiso Maru and Yamato Maru off Palau, 07°09'N, 134°32'E; although damaged by depth charges, 07°09'N, 134°34'E, she remains on patrol.

USAAF B-24 sinks Japanese cargo ship Kinyamasan Maru, 01°00'N, 149°20'E, that had escaped damage the previous day; destroyer Asanagi continues on to Truk with survivors of Nichii Maru and Kinyamasan Maru.

Japanese army repair ship Kashima Maru is sunk by mine, laid by USAAF B-24 on 16 November 1943 off Macao.

U.S. tanker Elizabeth Kellogg, bound for Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, is torpedoed by German submarine U-516 at 11°10'N, 80°43'W, and abandoned.

Day 1534 of World War II, November 24th 1943

Eastern Front

German attacks at Korosten increased, forcing the Soviets to fall back.

Air War over Europe

The USAAF Eighth Air Force's VIII Bomber Command flew Mission 136: seven B-17 Flying Fortresses dropped 2.4 million leaflets over Lille, France; and Brussels, Antwerp, Charleroi and Ghent, Belgium. USAAF Fifteenth Air Force bombers bombed Toulon harbor, sinking light cruiser 'Jeanne de Vienne', destroyer 'Aigle' and sloop SG 21.

Italian Campaign

The U.S. Fifth Army outlined a final plan of attack to begin about 2 December. The first phase called for the capture of the Mt. Camino-Mt. Ia Difensa-Mt. Maggiore area, to be preceded on 1 December by the capture of Calabritto. In the second phase, Mt. Sammucro was to be cleared in conjunction with a drive west along the Colli-Atina road. The third phase was to be an attack into the Liri Valley. In the British Eighth Army area, XIII Corps captured Castel Alfedena. The corps bridgehead north of the Sangro River was now firmly established.

Northwest African Tactical Bomber Force bombers, along with RAF Desert Air Force fighter-bombers, in close support of the British Eighth Army, hit gun positions and defended points in the Fossacesia area. The USAAF Twelfth Air Force XII Air Support Command A-36 Apaches, in support of the U.S. Fifth Army, hit roads northwest of the battleline, and bombed the harbor at Civitavecchia. During the night, RAF No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group aircraft bombed four targets: Six bombed a ball bearing plant in Turin with the loss of one aircraft; and one each bombed a highway at Gallinaria, a railroad at Genoa and a highway at Savona. Seventeen USAAF Fifteenth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses, with P-38 Lighting escorts, bombed the marshalling yard at Sofia with the loss of two aircraft.

Battle of the Atlantic

The unescorted 'Melville E. Stone' (Master Lawrence J. Gallagher) was hit by two torpedoes from 'U-516' about 100 miles northwest of Cristobal. The ship was less than seven hours in sea when the torpedoes were spotted by a lookout. The first torpedo struck on the port side in the settling tank and the second hit ten seconds later near #4 hold. The explosions opened large holes in the side and extensively damaged the main and auxiliary engines. As the ship settled rapidly on an even keel, the ten officers, 32 crewmen, 23 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) and 23 passengers (military personnel) abandoned ship immediately in rough seas. Two of the lifeboats capsized from the suction created by the ship, which sank within eight minutes and several men drowned, including the master. Three boats got away and later picked up men from rafts and debris. The survivors were later spotted by an aircraft, which dropped flares so that the American submarine chasers USS SC-1023 and USS SC-662 could pick them up. Five officers, seven crewmen, two armed guards and one passenger were lost.

Survivors of U.S. tanker 'Elizabeth Kellogg', torpedoed by German submarine 'U-516' on 22 November 1943, were rescued by submarine chaser SC-1017 and Army tanker Y 10. Eight of the tanker's 36-man merchant complement and two of the 12-man Armed Guard perished with the ship.

Battle of the Mediterranean

USAAF aircraft bomb Toulon harbor, sinking light cruiser Jeanne de Vienne, destroyer Aigle and sloop SG.21 (ex-second class sloop Chamois)

United States

The aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-18 ) is commissioned. The USN now has ten aircraft carriers in commission.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Craven (DD-382) underway in San Francisco Bay, California (USA), on 24 November 1943



Pacific War

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force): 20 B-24's out of Nanumea bomb Maloelap Atoll in the Marshalls, scoring hits on the landing ground and a cargo vessel.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 5 B-25's and 16 P-40's bomb Hanshow and strafe 15-20 small boats N of the city; 2 other B-25's attack the harbor and town of Amoy; 2 direct hits are scored on a docked freighter.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force): 25 B-24's bomb Chabai and Buka; 20 B-25's of the 42nd BG hit Kahili Airfield. Lost is B-25 "Careless" (rescued). Six others bomb and strafe a possible radio station at Mutupina Point; fighter patrols strafe Gazelle and Queen Carola Harbors, sinking a barge and damaging a schooner. The 371st Bombardment Squadron, 307th BG (Heavy), based on Espiritu Santo with B-24's, begins operating from Guadalcanal.

SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Bougainville, the 3d Marine Division makes substantial progress, gaining commanding ground in the Piva Forks area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): Colonel Neel E Kearby becomes Commanding Officer of the V Fighter Command. In New Guinea, 30+ B-25's, B-26's, and A-20's bomb village of Kalasa; 15 A-20's and B-25's, with P-38's escorting, hit stores and supplies in the Finschhafen area. 20+ B-24's, supported by P-38's, bomb Gasmata. The 25th Liaison Squadron, V Bomber Command, transfers from Sydney to Brisbane with L-5's. They will fly their first combat mission in Feb 44.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

Eighteen USAAF Fifth Air Force B-25s hit shipping at Halmahera Island, Netherlands East Indies.

GILBERT AND MARSHALL ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Makin Atoll, Regimental Combat Team 165, less the 3d Battalion, leaves for Hawaii. The 3d Battalion and miscellaneous units are left behind to conduct minor mopping up operations and to support the construction forces. Command is turned over to Colonel Clesen H. Tenney, Garrison Force commander. The 27th Infantry Division casualties for Makin total 218, of whom eight are killed and eight die of wounds. Japanese casualties, aside from those subsequently inflicted during the mop-up, are estimated at 550, including 105 prisoners.

Photo: Aerial view of Betio, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands as seen from a Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless aircraft (flying at an altitude of 150 m) from the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Essex (CV-9), 24 November 1943. The view is to the north toward "The Pocket", the last place of Japanese resistance. Two 12.7 mm anti-aircraft guns are visible in the lower left



On Tarawa Atoll, two Marine Regimental Combat Team's (the 8th and the 2d) leave for Hawaii. Embarking from Betio Island, the 2d Battalion of 6th Marine Regiment, guided by scouts of the 2d Tank Battalion, begins an uneventful search for the Japanese on islands up the long east side of Tarawa Atoll.

Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) underway on 24 November 1943, while supporting the Gilberts Operation. The photo was taken from the light aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26)



Photo: A U.S. Navy pilot from Fighting Squadron 25 (VF-25) aboard the light aircraft carrier USS Cowpens (CVL-25) evacuates his burning Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat (BuNo 66101) after landing unaware that it was on fire, during the Gilberts Operation, 24 November 1943. Firefighters are rushing to the plane, and put out the flames in a minute and a half, with no casualties. The fire started as the Hellcat approached Cowpens for an emergency landing. The pilot was Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Alfred W. Magee Jr., USNR



NEAR MAKIN ATOLL, GILBERT ISLANDS

At 0510 hours local, the USN escort aircraft carrier USS Liscome Bay is struck abaft the after engine room by a torpedo fired by the Japanese submarine I-175 about 21 nautical miles WSW of Butaritari Island, Makin Atoll, Gilbert Islands, in position 02.54N, 172.30E. The aircraft bomb magazine detonates a few moments later and the entire interior bursts into flames.

At 0533 hours Liscome Bay lists to starboard and sinks carrying Rear Admiral Henry M. Mullinix, commander of Task Group 52.3, Liscome Bay's skipper Captain I.D. Wiltsie, 53 other officers, and 591 enlisted men down with her; 272 of her crew are rescued. One of the enlisted men killed is black Ship's Cook Third Class Doris "Dorie" Miller who was awarded the Navy Cross at Pearl Harbor by moving his mortally wounded captain to a place of greater safety and then manning a 50 caliber machine gun on the deck of the USS West Virginia until he ran out of ammunition and is ordered to abandon ship. Miller is commended by Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox on 1 April 1942, and on 27 May 1942 he received the Navy Cross, which Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, personally presented to Miller on board aircraft carrier USS Enterprise for his extraordinary courage in battle. Speaking of Miller, Nimitz remarked: "This marks the first time in this conflict that such high tribute has been made in the Pacific Fleet to a member of his race and I'm sure that the future will see others similarly honored for brave acts."

Day 1536 of World War II, November 26th 1943

YouTube (The Costliest Day in US Marine History)



Eastern Front

The Red Army has driven the Germans out of Gomel, north of the Pripet Marshes, and was chasing them along a 100-mile front in White Russia. This powerful and well-timed blow now cracked the Wehrmacht's winter line, and the Germans were forced out of the deep belts of well-equipped dugouts where they had intended to spend the winter in comparative comfort. Now they were being hounded into the marshes and forests where the snow was deep and the partisans lie in wait for the unwary. The German high command admited that the Russians were;

"..trying to interfere with our disengaging movements."

Air War over Europe

Air Battle of Berlin: RAF Bomber command again sends bombers against Berlin, striking the city center. 443 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitos to Berlin and Stuttgart (diversion). Both forces flew a common route over Northern France and on nearly to Frankfurt before diverging. The German controllers thought that Frankfurt was the main target until a late stage and several bombers were shot down as they flew past Frankfurt. Only a few fighters appeared over Berlin, where flak was the main danger, but the scattered condition of the bomber stream at Berlin meant that bombers were caught by fighters off track on the return flight and the casualties mounted. 28 Lancasters were lost, 6.2 per cent of the force, and 14 more Lancasters crashed in England. The weather was clear over Berlin but, after their long approach flight from the south, the Pathfinders marked an area 6-7 miles north-west of the city centre and most aircraft bombed there. Because of Berlin's size, however, most of the bombing still fell within the city boundaries and particularly on the semi-industrial suburb of Reinickendorf; smaller amounts of bombing fell in the centre and in the Siemensstadt (with many electrical factories) and Tegel districts. 2-3000 civilians were killed in the raid. In addition, the Berlin Zoo was heavily hit, killing most of the animals but several large and dangerous animals - leopards, panthers, jaguars, apes - escaped and had to be hunted and shot in the streets. The diversionary raid on Stuttgart was carried out by 157 Halifaxes and 21 Lancasters. 6 Halifaxes lost, 3.4 per cent of the force. The bombing was very scattered and caused little damage but part of the night-fighter force was drawn off from the Berlin operation.

At Intersburg during an inspection of the new Me 262 jet fighter with the designer, Professor Willy Messerschmitt, Adolf Hitler asked the professor if the new jet could carry bombs. Messerschmitt gave him the answer that he had given Goring on 2 November. After being told it could carry 2200lb or 1100lb bombs, Hitler proclaimed that he had found his 'blitzbomber' that could keep the Allies off the beaches whenever the landings would happen. From this point on - in Hitler's mind - the Me 262 was expected to be a fighter-bomber and not the fighter so desperately needed. Messerschmitt ignored the 'will' of the Fuhrer and busily worked to put the machine into production as a fighter. Milch, upon reading intel reports on US bombers also pressed on with production of the Me 262 as a fighter. Though Milch made agreeable noises about building a fighter-bomber, little or nothing was done to that end.

350 B-17s, 77 B-24s and 13 B-17PFF aircraft attacked the port of Bremen. 22 B-17s and 3 B-24s were lost but only 4 to defending fighters. 128 B-17s were dispatched to Paris but aborted because the target was covered in cloud. These missions were escorted by 28 P-38s and 353 P-47s with the loss of 4 Thunderbolts.

Battle of the Atlantic

Naval Air Facilities are established at Amapa, Aratu, and Belem, Brazil; Naval Air Facilities (Lighter than Air) are established at Fernando Noronha, Fortaleza, and Ipitanga, Brazil.

Battle of the Mediterranean

The British transport HMT 'Rohna' was sunk by a German guided bomb in the Mediterranean Not wanting to give the enemy any information about its success, the American and British military did not acknowledge the sinking. The secrecy prevailed even after the war. About 2,200 American servicemen boarded the 'Rohna', which had been designed to carry 100 passengers in comfort, in Oran, Algeria. The largest single unit was the 853rd Engineer Aviation Battalion, which was going to India to build runways. The 'Rohna' left Oran and joined a convoy sailing from Great Britain. Since the departure was on Thanksgiving Day, the crew provided a holiday repast that didn't stay down long as the ship rolled through the swells. Seasickness, however, would be the least of their problems.

At 4:30 p.m. the next day, German bombers based in occupied France attacked the convoy. The attack lasted for an hour, and most soldiers saw none of it. All were ordered below, in many cases levels below deck. In additional to conventional bombs, German aircraft had Henschel 293 guided bombs. The large explosive was fitted with aluminium wings, rudders and rocket propulsion, and the bombardier guided it with radio signals. At about 5:15 p.m., a guided bomb struck the 'Rohna' near the waterline on the port side, blowing a hole through both sides of the ship. It hit near where much of the 853rd was berthed. About 300 were killed by the blast itself. It is impossible to determine how many survived but couldn't get out of the ship before it sank. Attempts to abandon ship were disastrous. Many of the lifeboats and rafts were frozen by rust or paint to their moorings. Instead of life vests, which would hold heads out of the water if the wearer was unconscious, soldiers had inflatable life rings. Many drowned while wearing them. Seas were rough enough to inhibit visibility, and night fell shortly after the attack. Five ships criss-crossed the water searching for survivors, who bobbed in and out of sight of the searchlights. The 853rd had 30 officers and and 93 enlisted men when the 'Rohna' left port. Now, 495 were gone, and 14and of the survivors were injured. As well, 134 British and Australian officers and Indian crew members died. The total death toll was 1,149. But the British, French and American defending aircrew made the following claims; 6 He 177A-3s lost and 3 He 177A-3s were destroyed in crash landings, all from II./KG 40. A further aircraft was claimed destroyed by the AA gunners aboard an LCI. The defenders lost a single Beaufighter.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) running trials on 26 November 1943. The photo was taken from an altitude of 300 metres



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 5 B-25's and 16 fighters attack Kiangling airfield; 2 other B-25's damage freighter in Honghai Bay; 12 P-40's attack numerous boats in the Changte-Tehshan area. 8 other P-40's hit railroad yards at Cam Duong, French Indochina.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED FRENCH INDOCHINA

Eight USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-40s hit railroad yards at Cam Duong.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force): Buka Airfield and Bonis Airfield are hit by 40+ B-24's, 30+ B-25's, and 30+ fighter aircraft. A few RNZAF Venturas attack Green Island, causing heavy damage in the bivouac and supply area and sinking a barge. A single B-25 bombs Ballale Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): In New Guinea, almost 40 medium bombers hit barge hideouts near Sio; P-40's and P-47's strafe villages and targets of opportunity around Alexishafen, Madang, and Nubia; P-39's attack a force of about 40 Japanese fighters and bombers in the Finschhafen area, claiming 4 shot down. B-24's bomb Gasmata and score hits on a cruiser near Ubili. Lost on a recon flight are Boomerang A46-132 and Boomerang A46-109.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

In Northeast New Guinea, fighting at Pabu Hill continues as the Australian 2/43rd Battalion, 24th Brigade, 9th Division, repulses strong Japanese attacks. The 2/43rd Battalion holds Pabu, one of the outlying features near Sattelberg, against strong Japanese attacks.

SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

On Bougainville, the I Marine Amphibious Corps continues to expand the perimeter of the beachhead. The 3d Marine Division is now at the southern shore of Lake Kathleen.

NEAR MAKIN ATOLL, GILBERT ISLANDS

On Apamama Atoll, V Amphibious Corps scouts are recalled as the Apamama landing force arrives and begins organizing defenses of the atoll. On Tarawa Atoll, the 2d Battalion of the 6th Marine Regiment reaches Buariki, the last relatively large island of the atoll, and prepares to attack Japanese forces believed to be there.

Photo: "8 inch Vickers naval guns brought from Singapore" on the island of Tarawa



AUSTRALIA

Photo: The U.S. Navy cargo ship USS Gold Star (AG-12) at anchor in an Australian port on 26 November 1943. The photo was by No. 7 Squadron RAAF which was stationed at Ross River, Townsville, in northern Queensland, Australia, at that time



PACIFIC

PV-1 (VP 138) attacks what is most likely Japanese submarine I-177, which is engaged in rescuing survivors of the Battle of Cape St. George. I-177 rescues some 200 Japanese sailors in the aftermath of the battle.

USAAF B-25s sink Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Genchi Maru off Canton, China, 21°33'N, 112°00'E.

Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) sinks Japanese army tanker Ogurasan Maru and merchant cargo ship Tainan Maru, 13°00'N, 109°30'E.

Submarine Raton (SS-270) damages Japanese ammunition ship Onoe Maru, 00°40'N, 148°20'E; submarine chaser Ch 40 counterattacks but is damaged by the explosion of her own depth charges.

Submarine Ray (SS-271) carries out unsuccessful attacks on Japanese cargo vessel Sumiyoshi Maru, 02°32'N, 148°56'E, but sinks Japanese transport Nikkai Maru southwest of Truk, 04°12'N, 148°20'E.

Submarine Tinosa (SS-283) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Shini Maru, and damages army cargo ship Taiyu Maru, 07°08'N, 134°48'E.

Day 1538 of World War II, November 28th 1943

Eastern Front

Northwest of Gomel near Zhlobin, the Russian Army advanced.

Air War over Europe

Further confirmation of the existence of the V1 Flying-Bomb was made during a photographic reconnaissance mission by a No. 540 Squadron Mosquito.

10 RAF Mosquitos flew to Essen and 1 to Duisburg, with 10 aircraft conducting minelaying off Brest and Cherbourg.

B-26s were recalled over S France due to bad weather; the medium bombers and their fighter escort claimed 5 fighters destroyed in combat over the French coast.

Italian Campaign

The British 8th Army began an offensive to again cross the Sangro River. Montgomery declared that;

"..the road to Rome is open"

...as the Eighth Army launched its heavy attack across the Sangro. Aircraft and artillery bombardment was heavy in preparation. The attack was spearheaded by the Indian 8th Division and heavily supported by artillery and air assets. The German 65th Infantry division defending the area took heavy losses and withdrew in disorder before German reinforcements restored the situation. By the end of the day the British 8th Indian Division almost reached Mozzogrogna.

Battle of the Atlantic

'U-542' was sunk north of Madeira by depth charges from a British Wellington aircraft with "Leigh light" (Sqn 179/H). 56 dead (all hands lost).

Battle of the Mediterranean

HMS 'Birmingham' was torpedoed and very seriously damaged by 'U-407' off the coast of Cyrenaica. The cruiser managed to reach Alexandria, where temporary repairs were carried out. In June 1944, she sailed to the USA for permanent repairs and returned to service in November 1944.

In Yugoslavia, B-25s bombed warehouses, docks, marshalling yards, barracks, shipping, and other targets at Sibenik, Zara, and Dubrovnik; RAF DAF fighters strafed trains between Dubrovnik and Metkovic.

Iran

Beginning today Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin, with their respective staff, met in Teheran. Lasting for four days the meetings confirmed the Overlord plan in May of 1944 and the Anvil plan for southern France. Stalin agreed to join the war against Japan after the war in Europe was over. This conference will become controversial in US Politics, because the American accommodations were bugged by their hosts. Roosevelt also hesitated to appear to Stalin as too close to Churchill. This hesitation was claimed to have allowed the Soviets more concessions than otherwise would have been allowed.

United States

Photo: USS Oyster Bay (AGP-6) underway off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington (USA), on 28 November 1943



Pacific War

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force): 11 B-24's from Nanumea hit Nauru. The 45th Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group, transfers from Baker to Nanumea with P-40N's.

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force): In Burma, B-24's heavily damage the Botataung docks at Rangoon; the B-24's claim 4 interceptors shot down; B-25's pound Sagaing.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 8 P-40's bomb and strafe the barracks area and village on the W bank of the Salween River near Litsaoho; 8 P-40's drop ammunition to besieged Chinese troops at Changte.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED FRENCH INDOCHINA

Six USAAF Fourteenth Air Force P-40s strafe the town area and airfield at Luang Prabang and hit the radio building, barracks, and tower at Tran Ninh.

GILBERT AND MARSHALL ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

Tarawa Atoll is completely secured. No Japanese are found on the small islet of Naa on the northern tip of the atoll. Marine casualties on Tarawa total 3,301. Japanese losses are estimated to be 4,690 killed, 17 captured, and 129 Koreans taken prisoner

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force): On Bougainville in the Solomons , 6 B-25's bomb and strafe the Mutupina Point area; fighters strafe Tinputs Harbor, barges at Tonolai, and targets of opportunity along the W coast.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): Nearly 50 B-24's bomb airfields at Wewak and Boram, and 40+ B-25's, B-26's, and A-20's hit villages on the Huon Peninsula and tracks in the Finschhafen area.

PACIFIC

Submarine Bowfin (SS-287) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Sydney Maru and merchant cargo ship Tonan Maru off central Philippines, 12°45'N, 109°41'E, but is damaged by Japanese gunfire and is forced to terminate her patrol.

Submarines Pargo (SS-264) and Snook (SS-279) attack Japanese transport convoy escorted by destroyer Oite and auxiliary submarine chaser Choan Maru northwest of the Marianas (see 29 November 1943). Snook sinks Yamafuku Maru, 18°21'N, 140°08'E.

Submarines Raton (SS-270) sinks Japanese army cargo ships Hokko Maru and Yuri Maru, 01°40'N, 141°25'E.

Day 1540 of World War II, November 30th 1943

Eastern Front

The Soviet Army suffered a 2nd significant setback as they withdrew from Korosten.

Air War over Europe

RAF No 192 Squadron, flying from Foulsham, inaugurated No 100 (Bomber Support) Group's operations by dispatching 4 Wellingtons on radio-countermeasures (RCM) flights. No aircraft lost.

US VIII Bomber Command Mission 144: 6 B-17s dropped 1.4075 million leaflets on Paris, Rouen and Tours, France; and Krefeld and Opladen, Germany during the evening; no casualties.

S VIII Bomber Command Mission 143. 349 B-17s, 29 B-24s and 3 PFF B-17s were dispatched to the industrial area at Solingen, Germany. 270 B-17s, the B-24s and 2 PFF B-17s aborted the mission due to cloud formations which caused assembly difficulties and required flying at altitudes not feasible for the B-24s. 79 B-17s and 1 PFF B-17 used blind-bombing equipment to hit Solingen plus 1 aircraft dropped on Wermelskirchen. They claimed 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 B-17s were lost; 3 were damaged beyond repair and 9 damaged. This mission was escorted by 20 P-38s and 327 P-47s; they claimed 0-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 and 5 P-47s were lost and 1 each damaged. Fw. Ernst Florian (13 kills) of Stab I./JG 1 was killed in action.

HQ 361st Fighter Group and it's 374th, 375th and 376th Fighter Squadrons arrived at Bottisham, England from the US with P-47s. They will fly their first mission on 22 Jan 44. HQ 362d Fighter Group and it's 377th, 378th and 379th Fighter Squadrons arrived at Wormingford, England from the US with P-47s. They will fly their first mission on 8 Feb 44. HQ IX Fighter Command arrived at Middle Wallop, England from Libya. HQ 357th Fighter Group arrived at Raydon, England from the US.

Italian Campaign

The British 8th Army cleared the ridge north of the Sangro River, denying the Germans positions to observe and bring down fire on the British bridgeheads. The US 5th Army begian diversionary attacks on the lower Garigliano River to assist the 8th Army. These will precede an assault on Monte Camino.

Photo: An overturned Sherman tank, 30 November 1943



In Italy, B-26s attacked the Monte Molino railroad bridge, Montalto di Castro, and areas around Bastia and Torgiano; accuracy was severely hampered by overcast; B-24s, with P-38 escort, bombed Fiume through the overcast. A-20s, operating in conjunction with light bombers of the SAAF and RAF attacked ground installations and defended areas around Lanciano, Fossacesia, Orsogna, Castelfrentano, and Guardiagrele; fighter-bombers, [US, RAAF, SAAF and RAF] hit pre-arranged targets in the battle area, and by hitting targets of opportunity on roads between Lanciano to Mozzagrogna aid in defeating a counterattack against the US 34th Infantry Division on Monte Pantano.

Battle of the Atlantic

Aircraft (VC 19) from the escort carrier 'Bogue' (CVE-9) damaged German submarine 'U-238' east of the Azores.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Tingey (DD-539) underway off San Francisco, California (USA), on 30 November 1943



Iran

The EUREKA Conference at Tehran between British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Soviet Premier Josef Stalin, ends. Acceding to Soviet desires to make Operation OVERLORD (Normandy invasion) the main effort, Operations OVERLORD and ANVIL (southern France) have been given priority over all other operations.

Stalin has agrees to commit Soviet forces against Japan after Germany is defeated. From Tehran, British and U.S. delegates go back to Cairo, where the SEXTANT Conference talks will be renewed.

YouTube (The Big Three In Teheran - 1943)



Photo: The "Big Three": From left to right: Joseph Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill on the portico of the Russian Embassy during the Tehran Conference to discuss the European Theatre in 1943. Churchill is shown in the uniform of a Royal Air Force air commodore



Pacific War

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force): 10 B-24's from Canton in the Phoenix strike Maloelap Atoll; 20 others, sent against the same target from Nanumea run into bad weather; 2 attack a cargo ship (and other vessels near Maloelap Atoll the remaining 18 return to base without attacking.

GILBERT ISLANDS

Marine 2d Tank Battalion scouts reconnoiter Abaiang and Marakei Atolls, north of Tarawa Atoll, finding but five Japanese, on the former.

INDIA

Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek again agrees to Operation CHAMPION (plan for the offensive in Burma) while inspecting Chinese troops at Ramgarh.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 6 P-40's bomb a fuel and ammunition dump at Luchiangpa; 8 others strafe several boats on a lake SE of Ansiang; supplies are dropped to Chinese troops in Changte.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force): 17 B-25's bomb Malai near Shortland. Fighter aircraft (AAF and USN) attack barges and AA guns at Tonolai Harbor, the SE coast of Ballale the NW tip of Choiseul , Amun above Cape Moltke, Numa Numa, and Chabai. Other fighters cover dive bombers attacking the Jakohina Mission area, gun positions at Kangu and Malabita Hill, and in the Mosigetta area; a few RNZAF Venturas hit the Mawareka area.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force): B-24's bomb Cape Gloucester airfield on New Britain . In New Guinea, B-25's bomb and strafe villages along coast from Borgen Bay to Riebeck Bay; B-24's hit Alexishafen; B-25's and A-20's attack Kalasa and hit trucks in the Waroe area. The 386th, 388th and 389th Bombardment Squadrons (Dive), 312th Bombardment Group (Dive), arrives at Port Moresby, New Guinea from the US with P-40's. They will be redesignated Bombardment Group/Squadrons on 6 Dec; fly their first mission on 14 Jan 44; and convert to A-20G and H aircraft in Feb 44.

PACIFIC

U.S. destroyers bombard Japanese positions on Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, Solomons.

Submarine Gato (SS-212) sinks Japanese army transport Columbia Maru, 01°54'N, 143°26'E; and escapes counterattacks by escorting submarine chaser Ch 24.

Submarine Skate (SS-305) attacks Japanese carrier Zuiho, 09°10'N, 151°30'E, which, along with carrier Un'yo and escort carrier Chuyo and escort vessels is proceeding back to Japan from Truk. Although Skate claims one damaging hit, none of her four torpedoes strikes home.

PBY sinks Palau-bound Japanese cargo ship Himalaya Maru six nautical miles south of New Hanover.