Air Operations, Bismarcks

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount single-plane attacks against the Gasmata airfield on New Britain, Pondo Harbor, and the sawmill at Ubili.

Air Operations, Europe

• 12 Venturas are sent to bomb Dunkirk, but they do not reach the target. 6 Wellingtons are sent on a cloud-cover raid to Emden where 3 planes drop their bombs.
• There are no losses.

• 2 Mosquitos are sent to Bochum and Hamborn and 12 Stirlings lay mines in southern Biscay.
• There are no losses.

Air Operations, New Guinea

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount single-plane attacks against Babo.

Air Operations, Sardinia

More than 40 XII Bomber Command B-27s attack Elmas Airdrome. B-25s and B-26s attack Villacidro and Decimomannu Airdromes. 2 Italian Air Force planes are downed by escorting P-38 pilots of the 1st and 82nd Fighter Groups.

Air Operations, Solomons

• AirSols fighters and bombers attack the Munda Point airfield on New Georgia.
• 307th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount single-plane attacks against Nusave Island, the airfield on Ballale, and the Kahili airfield on Bougainville.
• At 1943, 12 G4M 'Betty' bombers based on Bougainville attack a US Navy convoy near San Cristobal. 5 of the 'Bettys' are brought down by anti-aircraft fire.

Air Operations, Tunisia

12th Air Force A-20s and fighters mount numerous attacks in direct support of Allied ground force in the Sbeitla-Kasserine-Feriana area.

Allied Command

Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur W. Tedder takes command of the new designated Mediterranean Air Command (which absorbs 9th Air Force, 12th Air Force, and British RAF). Gen Sir Harlod Alexander is named deputy commander in chief of Allied forces and commands Allied ground forces under the 18th Army Group, which included the British 1st and 8th Armies, the US II Corps, and the French XIX Corps. Adm Sir Andrew Cunningham is commander in chief of all Allied naval forces in the Mediterranean.

Atlantic

15 Germant MTBs lay mines off Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

Battle of the Atlantic

• During the night the German E-boat, S-71, is rammed and sunk by the British destroyer Garth.
• U-201 is operating against convoy ONS-165 when she is detected by the British destroyer HMS Fame. The destroyer attacks with depth charges and sinks the U-boat.

U-201

The US Navy subchaser USS Kerrville (PC-597) February 17, 1943

Burma

The 47th and 55th Indian Bdes on the Arakan front attacks Japanese positions at Donbaik, but without success.

Eastern Front

Hitler flies to von Manstein's HQ at Zaporozhye. He stays until February 19 and is eventually persuaded to agree to von Manstein's plans for a counterattack.

The inexorable Russian advance continues. The Red Army captures Slavyansk, north of Kramatorsk. The OKW can now foresee the collapse of the whole southern front and issues directives for the launching of a vigorous counter-offensive.[MORE]

On February 17, 1943, under heavy security, Hitler flew in to Army Group South's headquarters at Zaporozh'ye, Ukraine; just 30 miles away from the front-line. Seen here, Generalfeldmarschall von Manstein is greeting Hitler on the local airfield.

Hitler Visits Army Group South's HQ

Mediterranean

U-205 is sunk by the British destroyer HMS Paladin assisted by Bisley aircraft from the South African Air Force. The U-boat sinks as Paladin is readying a boarding party for her.

U-205

North Africa

Both von Arnim's and Rommel's attacks are making good progress. The northern wing is now approaching Sbeitla, having virtually destroyed two-thirds of US 1st Arm Div including 2 tank bns. Rommel to the south enters Fériana. The limited attack that von Arnim envisaged has certainly come off; he diverts 10th Pzr Div toward Foundouk, which has in fact been abandoned, instead of pressing on vigorously toward Sbeitla. Having observed the weak American command and the understandable inexperience of the American troops, Rommel wants to be more ambitious. He puts his plans to the Italian and German High Command, who fail to make a quick decision.

In the British 1st Army area, the French XIX Corps withdraws to the west to conform with the withdrawal of the US II Corps. The 18th Regimental Combat Team, US 1st Div, is attached to the British 6th Armored Div at Sbiba. The US II Corps falls back to Western Dorsal and stations troops to defend the passes at Sbiba, Kasserine, Dernaïa, and El Ma El Abiod. Defensive positions are being organized. Combat Command B covers the withdrawal of the 1st Armored Div from Sbeïtla. The Germans enter Fériana and overcome rear-guard opposition and take the Thélepte air base. The 3rd Battalion of the 39th Regimental Combat Team, 9th Div, which has moved forward from Souk Ahras, Algeria, comes under corps command.

The British 8th Army, attacking with the 51st Div and the 7th Armored Div, captures Médenine and its airfields.

Loaded for a Rabaul strike, Marine TBFs roll down a taxiway toward the Piva bomber runway on 17 February 1943. (USMC 81362)

Ready for a Strike on Rabaul