Air Operations, Bismarcks

V Bomber Command B-25s attack barges near Cape Gloucester.

Air Operations, CBI

• 6 11th Medium Bomb Squadron B-25s attack the Tienho airfield at Canton.
• 74th Fighter Squadron P-40s down 2 A6M Zeros over Kweilin during the morning and 23rd Fighter Group P-40 escorts down 4 A6M Zeros over the Tienho airfield at Canton during the afternoon. 3 P-40s are lost over Kweilin.

Air Operations, Europe

There are further Allied air raids on Naples, Avellino and Salerno provinces.

Air Operations, New Guinea

• 24 V Bomber Command B-25s, escorted by 46 P-38s, attack the airfield at Boram in the late morning. 3rd Light Bomb Group A-20s attack Lae and Salamaua.
• P-38s of the 35th Fighter Group’s 39th Fighter Squadron and the 8th Fighter Group’s 80th Fighter Squadron down 13 Japanese fighters over and around Wewak in the late morning.

Air Operations, Solomons

B5N 'Kate' torpedo bombers mount a dawn torpedo attack against US destroyers and LSTs approaching Barakoma via Gizo Channel. The torpedo attack is ineffective, but 1 US destroyer is damaged and 27 crewmen are killed or wounded when a bomber strafes the ship. An afternoon Japanese Navy bombing attack is ineffective, but a late-afternoon attack by B5N 'Kates' and D3A 'Val' dive bmobers against LSTs unloading supplies at Barakoma results in damage to 3 LSTs from near misses and the loss of several Japanese bombers to antiaircraft fire.

Diplomatic Relations

The talks between Gen Castellano and Gens | ]

Eastern Front

The Soviets take Liberdin, to the west of Kharkov.

Lebedin falls to the 40th Army as it moves west. At Kharkov, Rotmistrov's 5th Guards Tank Army tries to force the XI Corps from the city by direct frontal assault. The Germans are lying in wait with concealed panzers and anti-tank guns and exact terrible punishment on the 5th Guards Tank Army.

20th August 1943 Das Reich Division Panzers Rush to the Defense of Kharkov

Finland, Home Front

A peace petition is handed to Prime Minister Ryti.

New Guinea

Allied forces fight fiercely to take Babdubi Ridge, southwest of Salamaua.

Solomons

In New Georgia the Americans are still mopping up the last pockets of enemy resistance in the Bairoko area. The Japanese evacuate the southern part of Baanga Island.

American Soldiers Man a Light Tank Fitted with a 75mm Gun in Troina, Sicily, August 20, 1943