Air Operations, CBI

• 8 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a bridge at Myitnge.
• 14 51st Fighter Group P-40s attack a motorpool at Hpunkizup and bridges at Kadrangyang and near Myitkyina.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Langgoer.

Air Operations, Solomons

XIII Bomber Command B-17s and B-24s mount small harrassment strikes against airfields on Ballale, Bougainville, and Kolombangara.

19th Bomb Group B-17

'The Old Man', one of the 19th Bomb Group B-17’s. During a photo recon mission over Gasmata, New Britain in March of 1943, this Fort was intercepted by thirteen Japanese Zero fighters. The A6M’s made repeated runs on the bomber, wounding both pilots, the top turret gunner, the navigator and bombardier. The top turret gunner, who had washed out of flight school back in the states, ended up landing the B-17 with the help of one of the pilots back at Dobodura. When the forward hatch was opened, blood poured out onto the ground. Miraculously, everyone lived. "The Old Man" was repaired and later became General Ennis Whitehead’s personal aircraft.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NAAF (Northwest African Air Force) A-20s and fighter conduct sweeps and armed recon missions over a broad area and support US II Corps infantry attacks leading to the capture of Gafsa.
• IX Fighter Command fighters directly support the British 8th Army along the Mareth Line.

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-167 attacks Convoy UGS-6 and damages the US freighter Molly Pitcher (7200t) about 500 miles west of Lisbon, Portugal. Survivors are rescued by the US destroyers Champlin (DD-601) and Rowan (DD-405) and the merchantman William Johnson. 2 crewmen and 2 of the Armed Guard sailors are lost in the attack.
• Attacking Convoy HX-229, U-91 torpedoes and sinks the US freighter Harry Luckenbach (6346t). The ship is lost with all hands, 54 crewmen and 26 Armed Guard sailoers. U-600 torpedoes and sinks the triehger Irenee du Pont (6125t) with the loss of 6 crewmen, 6 Armed Guard sailors and 1 passenger. The Dutch merchantmen Tekoa rescues 55 survivors and the Canadian destoyer Mansfield 16.

Burma

The 55th Indian Bde which has relieved the 123rd Indian Bde is attacked by the Japanese just north of Rathedaung in the Arakan and is forced to fall back. This new Japanese offensive is led by Gen Koka with units of 55th and 33rd Divs being involved. With the aid of reinforcements the 55th Indian Bde manages to fight clear of encirclement and to withdraw to Buthidaung, but that leaves the eastern flank of the troops west of the Mayu exposed.

Eastern Front

The Northwest Front offensive toward Staraya Russa is abandoned after the failure to break through the German lines south of Lake Ilmen.

The XLVIII and SS Panzer Corps begin their move north toward Belgorod.

Germany, Home Front

Berlin admits that, as a result of recent RAF raids, over 20,000 are homeless in Munich, and over 100,000 in Essen, Duisburg, Bottrop and Stuttgart.

North Africa

Patton's II Corps goes on the offensive and makes good progress despite heavy rains.

Two tanks 'Tiger' (Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf.E) 243 and 241 of the 2nd Company of the 501st Heavy Tank Battalion Wehrmacht (s.Pz.Abt.501) on the march on the road to Tunisia.

German 'Tigers' on the Road to Tunisia

The US II Corps opens its offensive as planned after artillery and air preparation with the 1st Div attacking for the first time as a division. Employing the 16th and 18th Regimental Combat Teams, reinforced by a battalion of the 26th Regimental Combat Team, the 1st Div moves into Gafsa, which the Germans have evacuated, and organizes it for defense. A hamlet southeast of Gafsa is also occupied. The 1st Armored Div, defending the left flank, is hampered by heavy rains but Combat Command A moves into Zannouch, between Gafsa and Sened, without opposition.

The the British 1st Army's V Corps area, the 46th Div withdraws under pressure from Tamera.

The British 8th Army continues local operations in preparation for its assault on the Mareth Line.