Air Operations, CBI

• 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the bridge at Myitnge and 16 51st Fighter Group P-40s destroy 20 Japanese Army trucks bearing bridging equipment.

Air Operations, Europe

• 52 Wellingtons and 20 Halifaxes lay mines between St Nazaire and Texel. 2 Mosquitos are sent to Düsseldorf and there are 3 OTU sorties.
• 3 minelaying Wellingtons are lost.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the airfield at Lae.
• A-20s attack Japanese Army ground forces at 4 locations.
• 1 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24 attacks shipping off Finschhafen and landing barges nearby.
• At least 48 Japanese bombers and fighters based on New Britain and Kavieng attack the airfield at Wau in two waves. V Fighter Command fighters who happen to be escorting C-47s to Wau down 1 Ki-27 'Nate' fighter, 2 Ki-48 'Lily' bombers, and 16 A6M Zeros at 1045 hours. In another action over Wau, 5 Zeros and 1 Ki-43 'Oscar' figher are shot down at 1240 hours.
• There are no US losses.

Air Operations, Pacific

Air superiority by the Allies is demonstrated as 26 of 70 Japanese planes are shot down over Wau by 37 Allied fighters.

Eastern Front

In the Caucasus the Russians reach Bataysk south of Rostov and capture Yeysk on the Sea of Azov. These moves cut the last links von Kleist's remaining troops in the Kuban had with the rest of the German army. These troops are now concentrated in the triangle Yeysk-Novorossiysk-Krasnodar. At the mouth of the Don a Russian advance column is already only five miles from Rostov. The Kharkov 'hedgehog' of von Weichs' Army Group B, holds firm, but is already by-passed by the Russians both north and south. Lisichansk on the Donets also falls and the Russians cross the river farther upstream at Izyum and reach Barvenkovo. Von Manstein flies to see Hitler, who eventually agrees to allow a retreat behind the Mius River.

As the Soviet 3rd Tank Army continues to be contained on the Donets by the Waffen-SS, the XL Panzer Corps retreats across the river, allowing the 1st Guards Army to recapture Lisichansk. The panzer corps continues to defend Slavyansk.[MORE]

Members of the Waffen SS Division ‘Adolf Hitler’ on the Eastern Front, February 1943

German Soldiers Somewhere on the Eastern Front in February 1943

Guadalcanal

The 161st Infantry, 25th Div, commanded by Col James L. Dalton, II, passes through the 147th Infantry about 1000 to continue the pursuit of the enemy. Preceded by patrols, the 3rd Battalion moves along the beach and the 2nd Battalion to the south, both reaching the Umasani River by 2020. Patrols cross the river. There is only one skirmish during the day when a patrol from L Company runs into a small Japanese force in a bivouac area on a ridge just west of the river. 7 of the enemy are killed and the patrol withdraws without loss. The 147th Infanry, which moves to the rear, is brought to full strength with the arrival of its 2nd Battalion from the Fiji Islands. Meanwhile the Japanese await a new 'Tokyo Night Express' convoy to complete the re-embarkation of the forces.

Yamamoto launches a final rescue mission. Weather hampers the American air strikes although they do damage the destroyers Isokaze and Kamakaze, it does not keep them from completing their mission. During the night 18 destroyers pick up the last 1,800 men on Guadalcanal and 2 other destroyers pick up survivors who have moved to the Russell Islands.

Mediterranean

The Canadian corvette Louisburg is sunk by Italian aircraft off Oran with the loss of 42 on board. 50 survivors are rescued by the British destroyer Lookout.

New Guinea

Japanese aircraft raid Wau airfield, but they come too late, for the airborne Australian reinforcements arrived some time before. Anti-aircraft batteries and fighters shoot down 24 of the raiders.

North Africa

In the British 1st Army area, the US 34th Div, less the 168th Regimental Combat Team, is attached to the French XIX Corps.

United States, Command

Europe and North Africa are separated in the US command structure. Gen Frank M. Andrews is appointed to the new European Theater Command and Gen Eisenhower remains in charge in North Africa.