Air Operations, Aleutians

10 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 3 B-25s, and 12 343rd Fighter Group P-38s attack Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

B-17s of the 43rd Heavy Bomb Group mount individual attacks against the Gasmata airfield on New Britain and nearby targets of opportunity.

Air Operations, CBI

• 23 7th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s and 2 B-17s (the latter flying at a mere 50 feet) attack a bridge at Myitnge, but no hits are scored.
• 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack rail facilities at Maymyo.

Air Operations, East Indies

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-17s mount individual attacks against targets of opportunity.

Air Operations, Europe

• There is a fighter-bomber raid on Ashford.
• 8 night raiders are shot down over northern England and southern Scotland.

• 3 Mosquitos shoot up trains east of the Ruhr without a loss.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Faan and Langgoer and B-17s and B-25s mount individual attacks against Mubo.

Air Operations, Solomons

• XIII Bomber Command B-17s and US Navy SBDs attack the Kahili airfield on Bougainville.
• During the night several G4M 'Betty' bombers destroy several XIII Bomber Command heavy bombers and several other aircraft at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. This leads to the institution of rigorus standards for the dispersal of parked aircraft.

Air Operations, Tunisia

• NASAF B-17s attack port facilities and shipping at Ferryville.
• NASAF B-26s attack the La Smala des Souassi landing ground.
• NASAF B-25s attack the Djebel Tebaga landing ground
• NATBF A-20s and B-25s attack Axis troop concentrations in direct support of the US 1st Armored Division attack on El Guettar, as well as the Djebel Tebaga landing ground.
• 2 81st Figther Group P-39 pilots down an Fi-156 observation plane about 0700 hours. 33rd Fighter Group P-40 pilots down 7 Bf-109s in an engagement around Djebel Tebaga between 0905 and 1035 hours. 52nd Fighter Group Spitfire pilots down 3 Bf-109s and 1 FW-190 between Gafsa and Maknassy during the late afternoon.
• IX Bomber Command B-25s directly support a British 8th Army ground assault for around 3 hours. German artillery in the area are attacked for more than two hours by RAF fighters and IX Fighter Command P40s from the 57th, 79th and 324th Fighter Groups.
• During the night, NATBF A-20s and B-25s attack German Army motor vehicles west of Sfax and Sousse.

Burma

The various Chindit columns join up between Baw and Pago, but Wingate is ordered to break off the operation and return to India. His forces split up into small groups and head for India pursued by the Japanese. The most succeed in reaching base by early April apart from one group which reaches safety in China. In 7 weeks the group has endured extreme hardships and one of three men ended up as a casualty. Their activities have been more than mere demonstrations, for they have been able seriously to interfere with the Japanese communications system. The most notable success was in disrupting traffic along the Mandalay-Myitkyima rail line which was cut at 75(25?) points. Despite the losses but many lessons have been learned and the value to morale and propaganda has been high.

Eastern Front

The Russians make gains on the central front, and penetrate the outer defenses of Smolensk.

Despite the thaw the Soviets continue to push closer to Smolensk, reaching the German outer defense ring. During their withdrawal from the Rzhev salient Army Group Center has prepared strong defensive positions around the city.

Mediterranean

The submarine Thunderbolt (ex-Thetis) is sunk by an Italian corvette.

North Africa

Montgomery sends 4th Indian Div on a short outflanking move toward Ksar el Hallouf overruns the Mareth Line and heads for Beni Zelten. In difficult terrain their progress is too slow to affect the outcome of the battle, however.

In the US II Corps area, the 1st Armored Div attacks Djebel Naemia in greater strength but still cannot dislodge the enemy. Gen Patton orders the position to be taken in the next morning's attack. Maj-Gen Orlando Ward, 1st Armored Div commander, personally commands the attack which begins at midnight without artillery preparation. The Germans, unable to break through the positions of the 1st Div on the hills southeast of El Guettar, maintains pressure in the area and achieves only limited gains.

In the British 8th Army area, the XXX Corps is containing the enemy in the coastal sector by feints coupled with air attacks while preparations are being made for an attack against the western flank of the Mareth Line.

In the British 1st Army's V Corps area, the enemy is at last contained on the northern flank, where the 46th Div holds the line Cap Negro-Djebel Abiod.

British 8th Army soldiers moving toward the Mareth line in southern Tunisia, March 24, 1943.

British 8th Army soldiers

Pacific

Operating in the Yellow Sea near Port Arthur, the US submarine Wahoo (SS-238) sinks the Japanese merchant passenger-cargo ship Teisho Maru (9849t), the cargo ship Takaosan Maru (2076t) and the cargo ship Satsuki Maru (827t).

United States, Planning

The Chief of Staffs Committee approves the plan for the recapture of Attu Island in the Aleutians.