Air Operations, Aleutians

6 28th Composite Bomb Group B-24s, 11 B-25s, and 1 F-5 attack Attu in 2 separate missions. A third mission is canceled, but 2 B-25s fail to receive the order and they also attack Attu.

Air Operations, Bismarcks

• 90th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack the Lukunai airfield at Rabaul.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Gasmata airfield on New Britain.

Air Operations, East Indies

V Bomber Command B-25s attack Penfoei, Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

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

IX Bomber Command B-24s attack the ferry terminal and a tanker at Reggio di Calabria, and the ferry terminal and rail yards at Villa San Giovanni.

NASAF and NATAF fighers attack Marghana Aidrome throughout the day.

Air Operations, Sardinia

• NAAF medium bombers and fighters attack numerous targets throughout the island.
• During a mission against Alghero Airdrome and nearby satellite airfields, 82nd Fighter Group P-38s down 3 SM-79 tri-motor medium bombers, 3 Bf-109s, and 2 Mc-202s in running fights between 1410 and 1435 hours.

Aleutian Islands

On Attu renewed American attacks on Fish Hook Ridge are repulsed by the Japanese. The Japanese are resisting with fanatical determination.

The Chief of Staffs Conference approve a plan for the capture of Kiska Island.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Because of the high number of losses, 56 U-boats have been lost during April and May, Dönitz suspends U-boat operations against convoys. Dönitz lost his own son when U-954 is sunk on May 19. He has grown tired of receiving reports which indicate that his wolf packs are regularly sailing into virtual ambushes and calls off all U-boat attacks in the North Atlantic. The Allies' combination of constantly improving radar technology, increased code-breaking skill and the arrival of more and better aircraft has effectively put an end to the Battle of the Atlantic. The Germans are now losing more boats than are being built, and have failed to modernize their designs. The vessels are redeployed to safer areas of the Atlantic but this is an admission of faiure and acceptance that they will serve a lesser purpose. The Germans have lost the U-boat war.
• 'Flak-trap' U-boat U-441 shoots down a Sunderland in the Bay of Biscay. U-boats in this area frequently proceed in groups on the surface and fight off Allied aircraft with gunfire.

Admiral Donitz with Members of a U-boat Crew

Eastern Front

Battles continue over much of the front. There is fierce fighting in the Sevsk sector, on the Kuban front, and in the Central Don area.

The combat line begins to come to life once more as fighting flares up along the Donets. In the Kuban the V Corps of 17th Army holds strong Soviet attacks. The German ability to repel their attacks promps the North Caucasus Front to conclude its long running Krasnodar Offensive. Some 66,814 have been killed and 173,901 wounded during the fighting.

May 24, 1943 for courage and military prowess is shown in combat with the enemy, Alexander Pokryshkin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Alexander Pokryshkin, Hero of the Soviet Union