Air Operations, Aleutians

2 343rd Fighter Group P-38s attack Kiska before the 11th Air Force is grounded by bad weather.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual attacks against the Cape Gloucester airfield on New Britain.

Air Operations, CBI

• In the 14th Air Force’s only medium-bomber mission of the month, 9 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack mines and rail facilities at Namtu and 7 of 11 P-40s escorting the B-25s strafe a mine and smelter.

• While defending Lingling Airdrome against an attack by an estimated 25 Japanese bombers and fighters, P-40 pilots of the 23rd Fighter Group’s 75th Fighter Squadron down 4 Ki-43 'Oscar' fighters and 1 Ki-45 'Nick' fighrter in an hour-long engagement.
• The CATF is formally assigned to the 14th Air Force, of which it becomes an independent combat command.

Air Operations, East Indies

• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Kendari airfield on Celebes.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Dili airfield on Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

• 5 Mosquitos attack railway targets at Tours, Paderborn and Trier without a loss.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack targets around Mubo.
• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount individual missions against Biliau, Lae, and Singor.

Britain, Home Front

IRA leaders, Hugh McAteer and Jimmy Steele, commandeer the Broadway Cinema in Belfast, and make propaganda speeches; then escape. Lord Haw-Haw later broadcasts this news.

T-34 from II SS Panzer Division Das Reich. In the tank hatch Genrich Gimmler, on the right side of picture sturbanfuhrer SS Valter Kruger and Fritz Ehart. 24 april 1943.

T-34 from II SS Panzer Division

Germany, Home Front

Lt-Gen Kurt von Hammerstein-Equart, former COGS and a leading anti-Nazi conspirator, dies at age 64.

Mediterranean

The British submarine Sahib is sunk off Stromboli by the Italian corvette Gabbiano and and a German bomber with the loss of 1 crewman. The remaining 47 crew members are picked up and made prisoners of war.

North Africa

In the US II Corps area, the 9th Div continues to press toward the Jefna position. On the northern flank, the 60th Regimental Combat Team takes Djebel dardyss. The 39th Regimental Combat Team, in the center, suffers heavy casualties as it battles a determined enemy on Djebel Aïnchouna.

The 1st Div places softening fire on Hill 575 (Kef el Goraa) throughout the day and to the right, in the sector of the 16th Regimental Combat Team, secures hill positions and thus removes the threat of envelopment. The 18th Regimental Combat Team seized Hill 407 while the 6th Armored Infantry fights vigorously for Hill 388. The Germans begin a withdrawal from the 1st Div front during the night. At the same time the 168th Regimental Combat Team, 34th Div, tanks over the northern flank positions of the 1st Div.

In the British 1st Army's V Corps area, the 78th Div continues to clear Djebel el Ahmera while the 1st and 4th Divs press eastward astride the Medjez el Bab-Tunis highway. In the IX Corps area, an indecisive tank and infantry battle continues on the Goubellat plain. Little progress is made, although the 1st Armored Div is committed and follows the 6th Armored Div to the east.

Churchill tanks advance in Tunisia, 24 April 1943. In the lead is a Mk I with hull-mounted 3-inch howitzer.

Churchill Tanks in Tunisia

Occupied Poland

The SS begins all-out operations against the Jews in the Warsaw ghetto. Buildings are burned or blown up but resistance continues among the rubble or in the sewers. Any Jews captured are either shot immediately or sent off to the extermination camps.

Pacific

The main body of the American 7th Div, given the task of capturing Attu in the Aleutian Islands embarks at San Francisco for Cold Harbor, Alaska.