Air Operations, Aleutians

14 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 17 B-25s, 16 343rd Fighter Group P-38s, 32 P-40s (including a number of RCAF P-40s), and 5 F-5s mount 4 separate missions against Attu and 6 separate missions against Kiska.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

1 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24 attacks the Cape Gloucester and Gasmata airfields on New Britain.

Air Operations, Europe

The Germans accuse the RAF Bomber Command of dropping explosive pencils and fountain pens, 'with the intention of killing German children'.

• 5 Mosquitos attack a railway works south of Brussels. Only 1 plane is believed to have hit the target.
• There are no losses.

Although not listed as a target, this photo (dated for this day) shows a low-level attack by Mosquitos on a power station at Lille in Northern France.

Low-Level Attack on Lille

• 21 Stirlings lay mines in the Frisians.
• 1 Stirling is lost.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Toeal.

Air Operations, Solomons

USAAF P-38s and USN F4Fs strafe Nyanga.

China

Japanese forces in central China begin a huge offensive into Hunan Province in an attempt to extend territorial gains and seize additional rice fields. Since 1941, the China conflict has been a mixture of savage localized campaigns by the Japanese, often involving the slaughter of whole village populations, and de facto truces between the Japanese, the Chinese Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek and the Chinese Communists under Mao Tse Tung. US commanders wanting to station air bases in China have been particularly disappointed by the intermittent Chinese co-existence with the Japanese invaders.

Eastern Front

In the Kuban the Soviets advance once more, capturing Krymsk and Neberjaisk, 10 miles from Novorossiysk.

Stalin and Polish leader Gen Sikorski agree to work together to defeat Nazi Germany.

Krymsk and Neberjaisk fall to the North Caucasus Front as the fighting in the Kuban continues.

A Damaged German Henschel Hs 129B of 5.(Pz)/Schlachtgeschwader 1 at El Aouiana airport, Tunis, Tunisia, in May 1943.

Damaged German Henschel Hs 129B

North Africa

Late in the day Djebel Bou Aoukaz, south of Tunis, is recaptured by the British 1st Div. The left flank is now secure for the attack on Tunis. The V(IX?) Corps is now commanded by Gen Brian Horrocks, who has taken the place of Gen John T. Crocker wounded a few days earlier, and includes 6th and 7th Arm Divs and 4th Indian Div. To the south Gen Alphonse Juin's French XIX Corps attack toward Pont du Fahs, the last line of defense before Tunis.

In the US II Corps area, the 47th Regimental Combat Team, 9th Div, paves the way for a direct assault on Djebel Cheniti by clearing the hilly region northwest of it. The 81st Reconnaissance Squadron, 1st Armored Div, gainst control of Djebel Achkel, but the enemy remains on its eastern slopes until the 11th. The 1st Div moves forward to the west bank of the Tine facing Djebel Douimiss. The 34th Div reconnoiters toward Eddekhila in force against strong opposition.

In the British 1st Army's V Corps area, the 1st Div, with effective air and artillery support, attacks Djebel Bou Aoukaz, on the east bank of the Medjerda River between Medjez el Bab and Tebourba, in order to cover the left flank of the IX Corps as it drives on Tunis on the 6th. The position is secured during bitter and costly fighting.

A Tiger I tank from the 5th Panzerarmee, captured by Allied forces in Tunisia. British forces broke through the defenses of the 5th Panzerarmee to the South of Tunis on this day in 1943.

Tiger I Tank of 5th Panzerarmee