Air Operations, Bismarcks

• V Bomber Command B-24s attack Unea Island and shipping in St. George’s Channel.
• 15 3rd Light Bomb Group B-25s attack the Cape Gloucester airfield on New Britain, 2 Japanese destroyers off New Britain, and barges and a fuel dump near Cape Raoult, New Britain. 1 destroyer is sunk and the other is left in sinking condition. P-38s of the 49th Fighter Group’s 9th Fighter Squadron down 7 Ki-43 'Oscars' over Rein Bay and Cape Raoult at 0830 hours.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s, escorted by 9 23rd Fighter Group P-40s, attack the Hong Kong port area.

Air Operations, East Indies

• 380th Heavy Bomb Group B-24s attack Boela in the Molucca Islands.
• V Bomber Command B-25s attack the Cape Chater airfield on Timor and Lautem, Timor.

Air Operations, Europe

B-17s bomb the Focke-Wulf works at Oschersleben.

• 4 Mosquitos are sent to Hamburg and 3 to Düsseldorf, 17 aircraft lay mines in the Frisians and there are 4 OTU sorties.
• There are no losses.

• 17 323rd Medium Bomb Group B-26s attack coke ovens at Zeebrugge with 33 1,000-pound bombs at 1105 hours.

• Of 182 1st Heavy Bomb Wing B-17s sent to Kassel in bad weather, 58 attack the Fieseler Aircraft factory, and 37 of 120 4th Heavy Bomb Wing B-17s sent to Oschersleben attack the assigned target or targets of opportunity in Germany and the Netherlands with a total of 177 tons of bombs.
• 22 B-17s are lost, 121 are damaged; 15 crewmen are wounded, 205 missing

• 4th Fighter Group P-47s assigned to withdrawal support for the B-17s down 9 FW-190s and Bf-109s in a running fight between Utrecht and Rotterdam from 1155 to 1220 hours.
• Also noted during this mission is the first use of aerial rockets by Luftwaffe fighters. Although highly inaccurate, the rocket used is capable of destroying any heavy bomber it strikes. This happens at this very first encounter when one of the rockets blows apart a 385th Heavy Bomb Group B-17 that then crashes into 2 other B-17s in the same formation, All 3 B-17s are lost.

Air Operations, New Guinea

V Bomber Command B-24s attack Larat and Manokwari and B-25s demolish 2 Japanese destroyers that had run up on a reef.

Air Operations, Pacific

US Army bombers sink the Japanese destroyers Ariake and Mikasuki in the New Britain area.

Air Operations, Sardinia

P-40s of the 325th Fighter Group's 318th Fighter Squadron down 2 Mc-202s near Monserrato Airdrome during a morning sweep.

Air Operations, Sicily

• NATAF A-20s attack Centuripe, Milazzo, and Regalbuto.
• NAAF A-36s and P-40s attack traffic, bridges, and roads near the battlefront.
• IX Fighter Command P-40s attach shipping at Catania and Santa Teresa.

Air Operations, Solomons

42nd Medium Bomb Group B-25s and AirSols light bombers and fighters attack artillery batteries and other targets at Webster Cove.

Aleutians

Late in the day, using 2 cruisers and 12 destroyers, the Japanese evacuate almost all the remainder of the Kiska garrison, about 5,200 men, without being spotted. The Americans bombard Kiska on 3 occasions between now and their landing on August 15 as well as dropping 1,500 tons of bombs.

Battle of the Atlantic

• The German submarine U-359 is sunk by naval land-based aircraft (VP-32) in the West Indies area.

U-359 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Forster Location Caribbean, S of San Domingo Cause Air attack Casualties 47 Survivors None

U-404 Class Type VIIC CO Oberleutnant zur See Adolf Schoenberg Location N Atlantic Cause Air attack Casualties 50 Survivors None

• US Army and British aircraft sink the German submarine U-404 in the Bay of Biscay.

• The US freighter John A. Poor (7176t), straggling from Convoy BX-65 in a heavy fog, hits a mine laid by U-119, but makes it to port under tow with no casualties.

Huge numbers of German tanks concentrate for a new attack on Soviet fortifications on July 28, 1943, during the Battle of Kursk. After taking months to prepare for the offensive, German forces fell far short of their objectives the Soviets, having been aware of their plans, had built massive defenses. After the German defeat at Kursk, the Red Army would effectively have the upper hand for the rest of the war. (AP Photo)

German Tanks Concentrate for a New Attack

Italy

Allied surrender terms are broadcast to the Italians by Roosevelt.

Sicily

The Americans take Nicosia and the Canadians Agira. The Canadians also take Leonforte, northeast of Enna.

Solomons

On New Georgia the American attacks continue, now directed principally toward Horseshoe Hill. Gen Oscar W. Griswold asks for reinforcements to follow up the attack on Munda. The Americans are advancing extremely slowly, and the Japanese exact a high price for every yard of ground gained. 2 Japanese destroyers are sunk by aircraft near Rabaul.

The reconnaissance group sent to Vella Lavella returns from Barokoma and reports favoralbly on the possibilities of a landing.

90th BS Attacking Enemy Shipping near Cape Glouchester, 28 July 1943

8th BS attacking Cape Glouchester, 28 July 1943