Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-24s mount a dawn attack against the airfields in the Rabaul area.

Air Operations, CBI

• 341st Medium Bomb Group B-25s attack a bridge at Myitnge.

• 10 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s, escorted by 12 23rd Fighter Group P-40s, support Chinese Army ground troops by attacking Japanese Army ground troops near Owchihkow.

Air Operations, East Indies

380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s mount an evening attack against Kendari airfield on Celebes.

Air Operations, Europe

• 6 Mosquitos carry out a nuisance raid on Berlin without a loss.

Air Operations, New Guinea

1 V Bomber Command B-25 attacks a motor launch and strafes a beach.

Air Operations, Sicily

During the morning, NAAF B-17s, B-25s, B-26s, and P-38s attack the Bocca di Falco, Bo Rizzo, Castelvetrano, Sciacca, and Trapani/Milo Airdromes, as well as several radio stations near Marsala. 1st and 82nd Fighter Group P-28s and 325th Fighter Group P-40s down 3 Italian and 2 Luftwaffe fighters over the airdromes or near the coast between 0610 and 1020 hours.

Air Operations, Solomons

XIII Bomber Command B-24s attack the airfield at Ballale.

Diplomatic Relations

Turkey reconfirms its policy of strict neutrality. It reaffirms both its friendship with the Soviet Union and the German-Turkish 1941 treaty of amity.

Germany, Home Front

The world's first jet bomber/reconnaissance aircraft, the Arado Ar-234, is tested at Rheine near Münster.

Fast Turbojet Recon Aircraft

The origins of this type date back to a specification issued by German Air Ministry in 1940 for a Fast turbojet powered single-seat reconnaissance aircraft. The design proposed by Arado, the Ar-234, went on to become the world’s first jet powered bomber. The first prototype, the Ar-234 V-1, first flew on June 15, 1943 and this was quickly followed by seven other prototypes, all using a launching trolley and landing skid arrangement since the aircraft’s fuselage was narrow that it could not take a conventional undercarriage.

Pacific

• The disguised raider Michel sinks a Norwegian ship west of Australia.
• The US submarine Gunnel (SS-253) sinks the Japanese merchant passenger/cargo ship Koyo Maru (6435t) in Tsushima Straig.
• The US submarine Sailfish (SS-192) sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Shinju Maru (3617t) south of Todozaki, Honshu.
• The US submarine Trout (SS-202) damages the Japanese tanker Sanraku Maru (3000t) in the Celebes Sea, off Sibitu. The tanker is evetually scuttled.