World War II in real time

Day 1306 of World War II, April 8th 1943

Eastern Front

With the spring thaw turning battlefields into mud and hampering military maneuvers, both the Germans and Soviets planned ahead for the summer. Marshal Zhukov suggested to Stalin in a letter that his forces should be first on the defensive against the expected panzer onslaught.

"It would be better to make the enemy first exhaust himself against our defenses and knock out his tanks," he wrote.

Air War over Europe

156 Lancasters, 97 Wellingtons, 73 Halifaxes, 56 Stirlings and 10 Mosquitoes attacked Duisburg. 19 aircraft were lost. Thick cloud again ruined the Pathfinder marking and the resultant bombing was widely scattered. Duisburg experienced only moderate damage with 40 buildings destroyed, 72 seriously damaged and 36 people killed. Bombs fell on at least 15 other towns in the Ruhr.

27 aircraft went minelaying off the Biscay coast. 1 Wellington was lost.

Germany

A 4 day meeting between Hitler and Mussolini begins at Salzberg. They decide to hold in North Africa.

Battle of the Mediterranean

Ninth Air Force B-24s attack Palermo harbor.

North African campaign

Axis forces continued their withdrawl towards Enfidaville. Units of the British Eighth Army captured Sfax. Lt. Graf von Westerholt of III./SKG 10 was hit by AA fire and his Fw 190A-4 crashed near Mezzouna, Tunis and he was killed.

Photo: A Universal Carrier and a Churchill tank of 51st Royal Tank Regiment during 6th Armoured Division's attack on the town of Pichon, Tunisia, 8 April 1943



Photo: A Sherman tank advances at speed in the Foudouk Pass, 8 April 1943



Photo: German prisoners and their guards wait in a roadside ditch during 6th Armoured Division's attack on the town of Pichon, 8 April 1943



USAAF 9th AF P-40s flew 29 bomber escort and other missions against retreating German columns along the coast north of Gabes. NAAF P-40s and Spitfires flew sweeps and recon over the Faid Pass - Fondouk el Aouareb - Kairouan area as the British X Corps attacked Fondouk. Other fighters flew recon and sweeps attacking motor transport south of Zaghouan. Western Desert AF fighters hit retreating German columns in the Cekhira-Sfax area.

Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

(Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, The weather airplane scouts Kiska and islands W of it with negative results.

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force) In Burma, 9 B-25's bomb Meiktila Airfield; 6 B-24's attack the airfield at Heho; and Ft Bayard Airfield is strafed by 9 P-40's. Enemy stores at Ningam are hit by 4 P-40's and a B-25.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force) HQ 11th Bombardment Group and it's 4 squadrons, the 26th, 42d, 98th and 431st Bombardment Squadrons with B-17E's and F's, transfer from Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands to the Territory of Hawaii. Group HQ and the 431st go to Hickam Field; the 26th to Bellows Field, the 42d to Kualoa Point; and the 98th to Mokuleia.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force) B-17's and B-24's carry out small harassing strikes, bombing Ulamoa, Finschhafen, and the airfield at Kavieng. Lost on a ferry flight is B-26 40-1417.

SOLOMON ISLANDS

The oiler USS Kanawha (AO-1), damaged by Japanese dive bombers yesterday, and beached off Tulagi by tugs USS Rail (AT-139) and USS Menominee (AT-73), sinks before daybreak.

Day 1308 of World War II, April 10th 1943

Air War over Europe

144 Wellingtons, 136 Lancasters, 124 Halifaxes and 98 Stirlings raided Frankfurt with 21 aircraft lost. Complete cloud cover in the target area again led to a failure. The bombing photographs of every aircraft showed nothing but cloud and Bomber Command had no idea where bombs had fallen. Frankfurt reported only a few in the suburbs of the city south of the River Main. The only damage listed was fires in a paper goods store and in the rafters of a few neighboring houses. The Frankfurt report said that there were no casualties in the city but another report said that 18 people died presumably in country areas.

7 Stirlings laid mines in the Frisian Islands without loss.

Battle of the Atlantic

U.S. freighter Edward B. Dudley, straggling from United Kingdom-bound convoy HX 232, is torpedoed by German submarine U-615 in the North Atlantic, 53°00'N, 38°00'W, but the torpedo that hits the freighter is a dud. U-615 stalks her quarry.

Photo: Blockade Runner's End. 10 April 1943, on Board HMS Adventure, in the Bay of Biscay. on the Morning of 10 April 1943, the German Ship Silvaplana Was Spotted by One of Our Coastal Command Aircraft, and Reported To HMS Adventure, Which Was Returning From the Mediterranean To the United Kingdom. After a Long Chase Adventure Closed Up and Signalled by Search Light Asking the Identity of the Ship. She Answered in a Suspicious Manner and the Adventure Sent Two Shells Close To Her Bows. Immediately Boats Were Lowered With Men As the Ship Was Scuttled, Bursting Into Flame at Several Points . 157 Survivors Were Picked Up, Including Over 100 German Navy. They Were All Brought To a United Kingdom Port



Battle of the Mediterranean

IS 12th AF B-17s raided Italian fleet units at La Maddalena in Sardinia sinking the Italian cruiser 'Trieste' and 2 motor torpedo boats and badly damaging the cruiser 'Gorizia'. US 9th AF B-24s bombed the harbor at Naples. RAF Liberators hit Palermo.

Image: ONI recognize chart of 'Trieste'



North African campaign

The British Eighth Army entered Sfax and continued north to La Hencha. The British IX Corps broke out of Fondouk Pass too late to cut off the retreat of the Axis forces.

Map: Tunisia, 30 January – 10 April 1943



P-38s destroyed another 20 German transports and 8 escorting German and Italian fighters. Later that afternoon, B-25 medium bombers and their escorts downed 21 transports and 4 of the escorting fighters. Despite these serious losses, the Luftwaffe continued to fly these aerial convoys.

During the night NAAF Wellingtons bombed troops and transports on roads in the area surrounding Enfidaville. In daytime, B-26 Marauders followed up the Wellingtons with raids on roads and military concentrations near Enfidaville. Fighter-bombers also hit ground targets. Fighters escorted bombers and flew sweeps from Medjez el rah to Sousse.

Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

(Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, the weather reconnaissance B-24 observes 4 unidentified aircraft near Segula. Three B-25's, 17 P-40's, and 6 P-38's fly 5 attack missions to Kiska, and negative searches for the unidentified airplanes at Segula. The last mission finds Kiska closed in and returns with bombs.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force) B-24's continue to fly harassing strikes as 3 of the heavy bombers hit Kahili Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Fifth Air Force)

In New Guinea, B-17's and B-24's pound the town and dock area of Wewak. Some of the B-17's also bomb Cape Boram and Kairiru Island while some of the B-24's hit Alexishafen and shipping off Wewak. B-25's pound the harbors at Bobia and Uligan.

The 8th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), 3d Bombardment Group (Dive) with A-20's transfers from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Dobodura. On 25 May 43, the group and it's 4 squadrons will be redesignated Bombardment Group/Squadron to reflect it's true mission.

Bismarck Archipelago: A lone B-17 strafes barges SE of Bogia and trucks at Cape Croisilles while another bombs the airfield at Arawe.

Day 1310 of World War II, April 12th 1943

Eastern Front

German troops of Heeresgruppe Mitte (von Kluge) evacuated Vyazma. 4(F)./122 conducted operations over the Kuban bridgehead. Two Ju 88D-1s failed to return from a sortie in that area.

Battle of the Mediterranean

US 9th AF B-24s sent to attack Naples harbor, were prevented by bad weather from bombing the target. About half returned without bombing while others hit Cosenza and Crotone. Other heavy bombers of the same group, in another mission, bombed Naples and the secondary target of Pizzo.

RAF Liberators were dispatched against Palermo. The primary target was attacked in spite of total cloud cover, but most of the bomb tonnage was dropped in Messina harbor. NASAF B-17s bombed the harbor at Trapani and hit shipping in the Straits of Sicily.

Photo: Destroyer HMS Packenham leading, followed by Destroyer HMS Nubian (Tribal class) who's guns are seen in the foreground, leaving Malta on an offensive sweep against Axis shipping supplying Tunisia, 12 April 1943



Photo: Destroyer HMS Packenham returning to Malta after a night patrol, 12 April 1943



Photo: Destroyer HMS Packenham returning to her berth at Malta after a night patrol against Axis shipping supply lines to Tunisia, 12 April 1943



North African campaign

The British Eighth Army took Sousse in Tunisia. NASAF B-17s bombed the harbor at Bizerte. NATAF B-25s and A-20s bombed airfields at Oudna and Sainte Marie du Zit. Other tactical aircraft hit enemy movements and flew sweep and recon throughout northeast Tunisia following the attack during the night by British aircraft, mainly in the Enfidavile, Zaghouan and Bou Ficha areas. 1(F)./122 sent sorties to the Algiers-Bone area and lost one Ju 88D-1 trop.

3 Me 323s from TG 5 were shot down north of Tunis into the Med while ferrying supplies and troops to the North African front.

Photo: Captured Contrasts- Axis Prisoners in North Africa. 12 April 1943, Algiers, Two Pictures Show Revealing Faces Among a Batch of Axis Prisoners of War on Arrival at a North African Port. the Italians Look Happy and Seemed Glad To Be Prisoners But the German Faces on the Whole Were Full of Bitterness and Disappointment at Their Defeat, 12 April 1943, Algiers



Photo: Axis prisoners on the march to an internment camp after being shipped down the coast by the Royal Navy, 12 April 1943, Algiers



Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

(Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 4 B-25's, 22 P-40's, and 8 P-38's hit Kiska 5 times. The last mission aborts due to weather. The other 4 missions bomb various targets starting large fires. Some fighters strafe Little Kiska.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force) P-38's and Navy fighters strafe gun positions in the Rekata Bay area. B-17's bomb airfields at Kahili and on Ballale.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force) In New Guinea, B-17's bomb Lae and Finschhafen. Single B-24's bomb Finschhafen 3 times and hit Madang once. Enemy airplanes attack Oro Bay and destroy 2 merchant vessels. In Timor, B-25's hit Vila Salazar and another village. Lost returning from a mission to Wau is P-39 piloted by Cohen.

PACIFIC

Submarine Flying Fish (SS-229) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship No.12 Sapporo Maru at eastern entrance to Tsugaru Strait, just off Shiriyazaki, northern Honshu, 41°23'N, 141°30'E.

Day 1312 of World War II, April 14th 1943

Eastern Front

The Russian 14th Army repulsed a German attack to the southeast of Leningrad. Following their success in opening a route to Leningrad on 18 January, the Soviets had tried twice to lift the siege completely. In their first attack on 10 February, they were foiled by the Spanish Azul Division, and then on 19 March they were driven off again. The situation was now like two boxers sparring, seeking advantage, before unleashing their big punches.

Air War over Europe

146 Wellingtons, 135 Halifaxes, 98 Lancasters and 83 Stirlings attacked Stuttgart, 23 aircraft were lost. The Pathfinders claimed to have marked the center of this normally difficult target accurately but the main bombing area developed to the north east, along the line of approach of the bombing force. This was an example of the 'creepback', a feature of large raids which occurred when Main Force crews, and some Pathfinder backers-up, failed to press through to the center of the marking area but bombed, or remarked, the earliest markers visible. Bomber Command was never able to eliminate the creepback tendency and much bombing fell outside city areas because of it. On this night the creepback extended over the suburb of Bad Canstatt, which was of an industrial nature, and some useful damage was caused, particularly in the large railway repair workshops situated there. The neighboring districts of Munster and Muhlhausen were also hit and the majority of the 393 buildings destroyed and 942 severely damaged and the 200-plus civilian casualties were in these northern areas. Only a few bombs fell in the center of Stuttgart but the old Gedachtnis church was destroyed. In the district of Gaisburg, just east of the center, 1 bomb scored a direct hit on an air raid shelter packed with French and Russian prisoners of war. 257 Frenchmen and 143 Russians were killed. This tragedy brought the total death roll in Stuttgart to 619, a new record for raids to Germany. The 23 aircraft lost during the RAF raid to Stuttgart were shot down by fighters from NJG 4 and NJG 2. Many night-fighter pilots recorded double kills including Major Kurt Holler of Stab III./NJG 4, Hptm. Materne of 4./NJG 4, Oblt. Rudolf Altendorf from 2./NJG 4, Hptm. Hans-Karl Kamp of 7./NJG 4 and Fw. Robert Luddecke from 5./NJG 2. A Lancaster was returning to Spalding Moor airfield from the operation when just 2 miles from the airfield it crashed out of control. All seven crew were killed. One Stirling collided with an electricity pylon and had to jettison part of its load when the incendiaries caught fire.

At the same time as the Stuttgart raid, Russian long-range 4-engined bombers made individual attacks on Danzig and Konigsberg.

Battle of the Mediterranean

NAAF B-17s bombed the Elmas and Monserrato airfields.

Photo: Looking down on the bridge of Submarine HMS Torbay, as the ship, with Jolly Roger flying returns to berth after a successful patrol, 14 April 1943, Algiers



Photo: British Submarine HMS Shakespeare on the Warpath, 14 April 1943, Algiers



Photo: HMS Brocklesby, makes a striking silhouette as the ship speeds along the Algerian Coast, 14 April 1943, Algiers



Photo: Another Convoy Goes Through To N Africa. Amongst a Recent Convoy Was An American Liberty Ship. She Had a Royal Navy Escort Plus An Allied Aerial Escort, 14 April 1943, Algiers



North African campaign

Axis forces occupied the hills around Bizerte and Tunis, extending from the Cape of Seratt to Enfidaville. This was the last tenable line they had in Tunisia. Montgomery's Eighth Army was moving north toward Djebel Garci and Takrouna. US 9th AF P-40s flew convoy escort and fighter sweeps as the British X Corps continued to make quick jabs at positions at Enfidaville. These attempts to force a German retreat were unsuccessful.

During the night NAAF Hurricanes and Blenhiems bombed La Sebala airfield and attacked transport on the Tunis-Pont du Fahs road. Western Desert AF light and medium bombers hit the airfields at SaintMarie du Zit. During the day, B-17s bombed El Aouina airfield. P-38s escorted the heavy bombers and flew a bombing and strafing mission against a beached vessel near Cape Zebib. A-20 Havocs bombed Bordj Toum. Fighter-bombers hit a motor convoy near Grich el Oued and trucks northeast of Dechret Ben Saidane and a battery east of Djedeida. Fighters flew recon and swept throughout the Tunisian battle area. Patrol planes maintained sea patrols.

United States

John Grist Brainerd, director of research at the University of Pennsylvania' s Moore School, submits a proposal for an electronic computer to colleagues at the U.S. Army's Ballistics Research Laboratory. The proposal was written by the Moore School's John Mauchly. In May 1943, the Army contracted the Moore School to build ENIAC, the first electronic computer. Although ENIAC was not finished until after the war had ended, it nevertheless marked a major step forward in computing.

The USAAF activates the Weather Wing at Asheville, North Carolina to provide scientific weather information for the USAAF and the rest of the Army. This new wing assumes responsibility from HQ USAAF for the supervision of the Army Air Forces Weather Service which was established in 1937.

Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

The Eleventh Air Force dispatches 30 P-40s, 17 P-38 Lightnings, 9 B-24 Liberators and 6 B-25 Mitchells to fly 10 missions to Kiska Island, bombing and strafing the runway, North Head area, installations, parked seaplanes, and facilities on Little Kiska.

BURMA

Tenth Air Force P-40s dropping 1,000 pound (454 kg) bombs, hit airfields at Myitkyina and Manywet, rendering the runways at both unusable.

CHINA

Fourteenth Air Force P-40s strafe pack horses south of Tengchung, barracks and warehouses in Lungling, and cattle and trucks north of Lungling.

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

Fifth Air Force B-17s, B-24s and B-25s carry out widespread attacks on individual enemy vessels. During these raids, B-17s bombing Hansa Bay sink an army cargo ship.

An estimated 144 Japanese bombers and fighters carry out a heavy attack on the Milne Bay area, severely damaging 1 vessel, beaching 1 vessel, and hitting 2 others, but doing very little damage to USAAF facilities in the area. AA defenses and the 40+ P-40s and P-38s that intercept the enemy strike shoot down 7 aircraft with the loss of three US fighters.

Captain Richard I "Dick" Bong becomes a Double Ace when he gets his 10th kill, one of the Mitsubishi G4M, Navy Type 1 Attack Bombers (Allied Code Name "Betty") attacking the Milne Bay area.

HMAS Wagga, a minesweeper, with HMA ships Kapunda and Whyalla, took part in the defense of Milne Bay during a heavy Japanese air attack.

The British vessel "Gorgan" was damaged and the Netherlands troopship "Van Heemskerk" was hit by bombs and set on fire. Minutes before the fire reached drums of petrol, which blew up, the Wagga took the survivors off the ship and saved a lot of lives in doing so. The ship was beached, but became a total loss. The Wagga sustained superficial damage.

PACIFIC

Submarine Pike (SS-173) damages Japanese army cargo ship Madras Maru north of the Admiralties, 01°25'N, 148°22'E.

Day 1314 of World War II, April 16th 1943

YouTube (Kursk - The Next Great Battle?)



Continuation War

Finland officially rejects the Soviet terms for peace, stating that they would be impossible to meet. This refers primarily to the Soviet demand for 600 million USD reparations, which the Finnish economic experts think impossible to pay in time without ruining the Finnish economy. As for the other Soviet demands, military experts think the Soviet demand of rapid demobilization together with the inevitable war against the Germans a dangerous combination. Majority of the people also still find it hard to accept the permanent loss of the territories lost after the Winter War, plus Petsamo, esp. as the Finnish lines of defense are still where the Finnish advance was stopped in 1941. Many are still confident that the German situation is not hopeless, although the highest Finnish leadership doesn't share this hope. From now on, the Finns see two possibilities. The first is that the Soviets think the Finnish front too unimportant to warrant a major transfer of troops from the most important effort against the Germans. In this case Finland could perhaps secure better terms later. The second is that the Soviets will attack, but that the attack could be repulsed, and after that Finland could have better terms.

Air War over Europe

97 Lancasters and 130 Halifaxes attacked Pilsen, 36 aircraft lost. This raid on the Skoda armaments factory took place by the light of a full moon but was not a success. In a complicated plan the Main Force was ordered to confirm the position of the Skoda factory visually. The Pathfinder markers were only intended as a general guide. In the event a large asylum building 7 miles away was mistaken for the factory and only 6 crews brought back bombing photographs which were within 3 miles of the real target. The Skoda factory was not hit. One report says that 200 German soldiers were killed when their barracks near the asylum was bombed.

159 Wellingtons, 95 Stirlings and 17 Halifaxes attacked Mannheim, 18 aircraft were lost. The Pathfinders marked this target accurately and an effective attack followed. 130 buildings were totally destroyed and nearly 3000 damaged. Production was stopped or reduced at 41 industrial premises. 130 people were killed, 269 injured and 6954 bombed out of their homes.

25 Venturas bombed a chemical factory at Ostend and railway yards at Haarlem without loss. The bombing at Ostend was accurate but the Haarlem raid hit housing near the railway causing many casualties. 85 Dutch people were killed and 160 injured and the old Town Hall was damaged by fire. The greatest number of aircrew casualties were suffered today in the whole of April - 360 men.

The total RAF aircraft losses on this night were the highest so far in the war, exceeding the 50 lost on the 1,000 bomber raid on Bremen on 25/26 June 1942 but 14 of the aircraft lost from the Pilsen and Mannheim raids came down in the sea and a proportion of their crews were rescued. With so many aircraft brought down from the night skies, there was ample opportunity for multiple kills by the night-fighters. Two bombers each were given credit to Hptm. Materne of Dtab II./NJG 4, Hptm. Wilhelm Herget of Stab I./NJG 4, Hptm. Hans-Karl Kamp of 7./NJG 4, Fw. Faren of 11./NJG 4 and Lt. Heinz-Martin Hadeball of 12./NJG 4. Lt. Helmut Bergmann from Stab III./NJG 4 claimed a total of 4 bombers for the evening.

After a raid by 30 Fw 190 fighter-bombers on London during the night, the Fw 190A-5/U-8 of Fritz Setzer of II./SKG 10 was damaged by flak and he crash landed at West Malling. Two other SKG 10 pilots also landed on this night.

25 B-24s were dispatched against the Brest U-Boat base while 83 B-17s were dispatched against the Lorient U-Boat base. 19 B-24s dropped 52 tons of bombs on Brest and 59 B-17s dropped 147 tons on Lorient. The attack was hindered by an effective smoke screen and strong fighter opposition. The bomber formations were met by fighters from JG 2 and lost 3 B-24s and one B-17. Although these losses were confirmed by the Allies, JG 2 claimed 3 B-24s and 6 B-17s destroyed. Ofw. Friedrich May of 8./JG 2 and Hptm. Mayer of Stab III./JG 2 each claimed 2 bombers. 4 Spitfires were also claimed shot down.

The II Gruppe of JG 1 had a mixed day over Occupied Europe. Around noon, Fw. Georg Hutter of 5./JG 1 gained his 9th victory when he destroyed a Mosquito east of Oostmalle. Near Vlissingen in the afternoon, the fighters of JG 1 engaged several Allied Spitfires and Thunderbolts. Major Herbert Kijewski, Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 1 was killed when his Fw 190 was shot down by one of the new P-47s. Hptm. Dietrich Wickop, having destroyed 2 Spitfires in the same engagement to bring his score to 8, took his place as Gruppenkommandeur. Major Kijewski had destroyed 21 enemy aircraft during his combat career.

Battle of the Atlantic

Two Consolidated PBY-5A Catalinas of the USN's Patrol Squadron Eighty Three (VP-83) based at Natal, Brazil, attack the 913 ton Italian submarine 'Archimede' off the coast of Brazil. The crew of the first PBY drops four depth charges that damages the sub; a few minutes later, the crew of the second aircraft drops four more depth charges from an altitude of 50 feet. The sub sank six-minutes later after 30 crewmen abandoned ship and boarded three rafts; one raft was found 27 days later by Brazilian fishermen. The raft contained two bodies and one survivor who identified the submarine.

Battle of the Mediterranean

RAF Liberators, under operational control of the IX Bomber Command, bomb Naples and Messina.

Northwest African Air Force B-26 Marauders on armed reconnaissance of the Naples area attack a vessel south of Ustica Island.

After two years of unaided guerrilla warfare, with huge losses on both sides, Tito's Yugoslav partisans seem to have been recognized by the Allies. Until recently, the misinformed British were dropping weapons to the rival band of partisans the pro-royalist Chetniks. Today, however, Allied liaison officers, Canadians of Yugoslavian birth, were parachuted into Croatia to find Tito's partisans fighting their way to Montenegro after a major Axis crackdown had failed to destroy them. The fourth major offensive involved five German divisions - including a Waffen- SS, a complete infantry regiment, two Italian divisions and their locally raised Ustachi allies. After savage fighting the outnumbered partisans managed to fight their way out, bringing 4,000 wounded with them. An attempt to trap them failed after a savage series of battles in which no prisoners were taken.

Photo: The British cruiser HMS Newfoundland in a heavy sea, 16 April 1943



Photo: In line abreast; (nearest camera) the cruiser HMS Newfoundland with HMS Rodney and HMS Nelson, 16 April 1943




Photo: The Battleships HMS Rodney and HMS Nelson  at sea. The anti aircraft guns of HMS Formidable can be seen in the foreground, 16 April 1943




Photo: Men of HMS Formidable watching the 16" guns of the Battleship Rodney firing. With her is the British cruiser Newfoundland (nearest camera) and the 33,950 ton battleship Nelson, 16 April 1943



North African campaign

The British Eighth Army abandoned their attempts to force a German retreat from Enfidaville by quick jabs and prepared to launch a full-scale assault during the night of 19/20 April. US 9th AF fighters flew sea patrol. In a brave but futile attempt to reinforce the Tunisian bridgehead, Italian Naval forces sortied. In the attacks the British lost the destroyer "Pakenham" while the Italians lost 2 destroyers.

NAAF fighters strafed trucks during the night and during the following day. A-20s and fighter-bombers bombed Djqobel el Raar and concentrations located in various wadis in the battle area. Aircraft maintained sea recon and patrols while B-25s and B-26s hit the Oudns landing ground and P-38s bombed vessels near Cape Zebib and Cape el Ahmar.

The Allied Air Forces in the Mediterranean have been completely re-organized in both their command structure under the overall command of Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder. A North-West Africa Tactical Air Force has been established under the command of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham to use the lessons learnt in the desert to give close support to ground forces in Tunisia. Light bombers and tank-busters protected by fighters will blast the enemy's strongpoints. A Strategic Force has also been set up. Composed of USAAF heavy and medium bombers, and RAF medium bombers, it is responsible for long-range attacks on bases, communications and shipping. In order to cope with the vast area covered by the Allied air forces they have also been divided into three geographical regions: Middle East Command, stretching from India to Tunis; the North African Air Command in Tunisia under Major-General Carl Spaatz, of the USAAF; and the RAF in Malta. The re-organization is to cope with the vast expansion of Allied air power in the region. The creation of the Tactical Air Force reflects planning for the invasion of Europe.

United Kingdom

British intelligence services intercepted and decoded a series of orders indicating that the main German effort for the summer would be an attack against the Kursk salient. Churchill was informed mere hours after the messages reached the German commanders in the field who were to undertake the attack.​

Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

(Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, Kiska is bombed and strafed 13 times. A total of 13 B-24's, 12 B-25's, 32 P-40's, 29 P-38's, and 2 F-5A's cover targets which include installations in the Holtz Bay area and gun positions on North Head.

BURMA-INDIA

(Tenth Air Force) In Burma, P-40's, bombing a railroad bridge near Mogaung, score a direct hit on the target and blow up both approaches, leaving the bridge temporarily unserviceable. Later in the day the bridge near Pinbaw is demolished by direct hits. Eight B-24's hit the Rangoon Marshaling Yard, 9 B-25's bomb the Thazi rail junction, while 9 more, weathered out of Maymyo, hit rail targets in Mandalay.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force) In China, P-40's strafe a group of buildings E of Tenchung.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force) B-17's bomb Kahili Airfield.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force) B-24's bomb Kaimana, Wewak, Madang, and Lae. B-17's pound shipping at Wewak, leaving 3 vessels sunk or in sinking condition. In Timor, B-25's bomb Vila Salazar. Lost on a training flight is B-25C "Chatterbox " 41-13088.

Day 1316 of World War II, April 18th 1943

Eastern Front

The German 17.Armee began its attacks to eliminate the Russian bridgehead at Novorossiysk. In heavy fighting the Soviets clung to their toehold. The German attack failed and was finally given up on 23 April.

Continuation War

Finnish Commander-in- Chief Marshal Mannerheim travels to Switzerland to tend his health. He uses the alias of 'Baron Marhein'. Chief of General Staff Gen. Erik Heinrichs acts as the C-in-C during Mannerheim's absence. Numerous rumors float around explaining the 'true' reasons for Mannerheim's trip. Some say there's in fact been a military coup and Mannerheim has been driven to exile. Others say Mannerheim went to present the Finnish surrender to the Western Allies. But the truth is just that: Mannerheim goes to tend his health after being seriously ill in early April. He returns on 9 May and resumes his duties. Mannerheim is old (he will be 76 next June) and his duties has worn him further. The old Marshal is no more in top of his powers.

Air War over Europe

The Commanding General, VIII Fighter Command, expresses the need for 20 fighter groups to neutralize growing German fighter opposition to the Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO). ​

12 Venturas attacked shipping and dock installations at Dieppe without loss.

10 Stirlings went minelaying in southern Biscay, no losses.

Battle of the Atlantic

Spanish merchantman Cabo Huertas rescues 11 survivors from U.S. freighter James W. Denver, sunk by German submarine U-195 in the North Atlantic on 11 April.

​Battle of the Mediterranean

Over 75 NAAF B-17s, escorted by P-38s, attacked Boccadifalco airfield and the Palermo marshaling yard. US 9th AF B-24s attacked Catania. NAAF B-25s, escorted by P-38s, hit the Alghero-Fertilia airfield and shipping at Porto Torres while RAF Beaufighters attacked Decimomannu airfield.

175 RAF Lancasters and Halifaxes were dispatched to bomb the dockyard at La Spezia but the centre of the bombing was northwest of the aiming point. The main railway station and many public buildings were hit. One Lancaster was lost. 8 further Lancasters laid mines off La Spezia harbor.

Ninth Air Force B-24s (including Liberator Mk IIs of the RAF 178 Squadron, under operational control of the IX Bomber Command) bomb Catania. Northwest African Strategic Air Force B-17s bomb
shipping and docks at Palermo.

North African campaign

The Palm Sunday Massacre - The effort to re-supply the bridgehead in Tunisia by the Germans is slowly turning into a disaster. Nearly 100 Ju 52s were loaded with German soldiers to be airlifted to Tunisia in an effort to reinforce Rommel. The transport formation was to be escorted by 16 Italian Macchi C-202s and Bf 109s fighters from JG 53 along with 3 Bf 110s. Near Cape Bon, the formation was attacked by 46 P-40s from the US 9th AF's 57th FG, 12 P-40s from the 324th FS and 12 Spitfires from RAF No. 92 Sqdrn. who were providing top cover for the P-40s. The Allied pilots were guided to the Germans by messages received from the German enigma codes. The Junkers transports were caught flying about 100 feet above the Mediterranean in 3 'V' formations. Leaving the Spitfires and a squadron of War hawks to take on the Messerschmitt and Italians, Capt. James Curl led 3 squadrons of fighters into the German transports. After 10 minutes of battle, over half of the Ju 52s were shot down into the sea or crashed on the beaches of Cape Bon. 51 German transports were shot down along with more than 16 fighters. The Allies lost 6 P-40s and one Spitfire during combat. Luftwaffe pilots claiming kills defending the transports were Lt. Rolf Schlegel of 4./JG 53 for his 3d kill, Oblt. Fritz Dinger of 4./JG 53 for his 56th victory, Hptm. Gerhard Michalski of the Stab flight of II./JG 53 for his 52d kill and Ofw. Emil Babenz of the Stab flight of I./JG 53 for his 24th victory.

At 09:50 hours, 5 Spitfires of RAF No. 145 Sqdrn were protecting 12 Spitfires of RCAF No. 417 Sqdrn as they patrolled over the Cape Bon-Tunis area. Near Grembala, they intercepted 2 Bf 109s flying at 16,000 feet and one Spitfire was subsequently shot down. Two claims were made over the Cape Bon region by pilots of 7./JG 53. The first claim was for a Kittyhawk by Lt. Walter Hicke, the second was for a Spitfire made by Uffz. Georg Amon for his first kill.

During the night RAF Wellingtons of the NAAF bombed the Tunis docks and marshaling yard. RAF Blenheims hit the La Marsa landing ground while fighters flew recon and patrols, attacking vessels, troop columns and trucks in the coastal area.

United States

Photo: The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Belleau Wood (CV-24) in the Delaware River, off the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania (USA), on 18 April 1943



Pacific War

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN

(Eleventh Air Force) In the Aleutians, 22 P-38's (some flown by Royal Canadian Air Force pilots) and 37 P-40's hit Kiska 9 times. The submarine base and gun emplacements on North Head are bombed and gun emplacements near the submarine base are silenced.

CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Seventh Air Force) In the Ellice Islands, the 371st and 372d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 307th Bombardment Group based at Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii with B-24's begin operating from Funafuti.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force) In China, P-40's strafe an enemy-held supply village SE of Tengchung.

SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Thirteenth Air Force) "Operation Peacock": G4M1 Betty carrying Admiral Yamomoto is intercepted by sixteen P-38 Lightning's led by Major John W. Mitchell (2 others abort) on a low-level, circuitous, over-water trip from Guadalcanal to a spot up the Bougainville coast to intercept Admiral Yamamoto who, according to US intelligence, is on an inspection trip in the S Pacific and is due at Ballale at 0945 local. Admiral Yamamoto's punctuality is calculated to allow the interception to take place at 0935 local. Two hours and 15 minutes after takeoff at 0725 local, the P-38's having flown at almost sea level find the flight of 2 Betty bombers and 6 Zero escorts. The 4-aircraft attack section under Captain Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. attacks the bombers. The Zekes spot the attacking P-38's at about 1 mi (0.6 km) and try in vain to cut off the attack and bombers attempt to escape. In the air battle, P-38G 43-2238 piloted by Captain Lanphier and P-38G "Miss Virginia" 43-2264 piloted by 1st Lt Rex Barber shoot down the bomber carrying Yamamoto. G4M1 Betty 2656. The other G4M1 Betty Tail T1-326 is also shot down and ditches. Lost is P-38G piloted by Hine.

Photo: The last picture of Isoroku Yamamoto (1884–1943), taken shortly before his plane was shot down



SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS

(Fifth Air Force) In Timor, B-25's bomb the airfield at Penfoei. Single B-24's hit the Finschhafen and Saidor areas. A detachment of the 6th Night Fighter Squadron, 15th Fighter Group based at Kipapa, Territory of Hawaii begins operating from New Guinea with P-70's.

PACIFIC

Submarine Drum (SS-228) sinks Japanese ammunition ship Nisshun Maru about 200 miles north-northwest of Mussau Island, Bismarck Archipelago, 01°55'N, 148°24'E. Submarine chaser Ch.18 rescues survivors, who include a number of Army prostitutes among them.